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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Beijing, January 13 (Xinhua) — With the arrival of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, foreign tourists have also begun flocking to the city in droves. Years of dedicated work to develop ice and snow tourism and the ice and snow economy have long made this "ice city" famous both in China and abroad. And a continually optimized visa policy, including 144-hour visa-free transit and a trial 30-day visa-free regime for Russians, has opened the door to "snow and ice diplomacy."
According to the Huanqiu Shibao newspaper, since December 2024, the number of foreigners entering China visa-free through Harbin Airport has increased sharply by 285.3 percent year-on-year. Ice and snow are becoming a unique economic resource and diplomatic tool.
The 42nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival officially opened at the Great World of Ice and Snow Park in Heilongjiang, capital of Northeast China, on Monday, January 5.
The festival, held under the motto "Icy Sky and Snowy Land – Creating the Future Together," features ten premium themed winter tourism routes and more than 200 events covering topics such as ice and snow culture, sports and physical education, and business cooperation.
Ice and snow, as a universal language transcending national borders, provide a creative platform for international exchanges. For example, the current Harbin Ice and Snow Festival introduced the "Honorary Guest Country" system, with Belgium being the first such country. 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Belgium, and Belgium's iconic ice sculpture, Manneken Pis, will be installed in the Great World of Ice and Snow Park. This is a living illustration of the fusion of Chinese and foreign cultures, and a skillful combination of a local festival and a significant anniversary in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Of greater strategic value are global governance dialogues initiated by ice and snow topics. International forums, such as the "World Mayors' Dialogue," centered around the ice and snow economy, have already expanded their discussions from ice and snow tourism to addressing common challenges facing humanity, such as climate change, sustainable urban development, and countering extreme weather events. Leaders of cold-climate cities across continents and countries shared approaches to climate governance, urban planning concepts, and how the ice and snow economy can stimulate regional economies.
The depth of the ice and snow economy determines the breadth and depth of its diplomacy. The Harbin International Ice and Snow Expo, which opened simultaneously, provides a window into this. The exhibition showcases the entire ecosystem—from equipment production and technological development to competition operations and tourism services—demonstrating that the ice and snow economy represents a robust market with enormous potential, spanning three economic sectors. It attracts the participation of leading global equipment manufacturers and technology service providers. The active participation of international giants, such as TechnoAlpin, the global market leader in artificial snow production, and Bombardier, the inventor of the snowmobile, reflects their interest in the potential of the entire Chinese ice and snow market chain, from consumption to production.
Scientific and technological innovations related to the ice and snow economy are the most notable focus in the industrial sector. For example, domestically produced industrial drones capable of operating in extremely cold conditions and intelligent and automated ice and snow construction technologies demonstrate the potential of the "Made in China" brand and are also attracting the attention of the international community seeking opportunities for collaboration.
The synergy between the snow and ice economy and snow and ice diplomacy is reflected in concrete achievements in cooperation. At the opening ceremony of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Expo, a series of Sino-Russian economic cooperation projects in the ice and snow economy were signed, covering many areas, including cooperation between chambers of commerce and industry, technology development, inter-university research, and cross-border tourism. This convincingly demonstrates that cooperation focused on ice and snow resources can effectively stimulate broader trade, economic, and people-to-people exchanges, bring development prospects to the region, and better serve the strategy of higher-level opening-up.
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