This year, green was a key word. Energy conservation and environmental-friendliness were two most important concepts.

GRAND SHOWCASE: Beidahuang Group is one of the leading companies in Heilongjiang Province, its presence in Harbin Trade Fair caught the eyes of guests from all over the world (SHI GANG)

Officials from the Development and Reform Commission of Heilongjiang Province stated green was a major barometer for any products that are going to be sold in the province.

The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus brought 30 environmentally friendly programs. One, for instance, is to extract active carbon from waste tires, another to process flammable gas from rubber and plastics. It expected to find Chinese cooperators to jointly promote its programs.

Foreign guests increased

This year, Russia sent out a large delegation with members from the government alongside private companies. They made up a considerable presence at the trade fair. In response to Russian companies' great enthusiasm in attending the event, the organizing committee set up a special "Russian Business Day" to provide a more convenient platform for trade negotiations between Russia and China, as well as Russia's ties with the northeast Asian nations.

The Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in the People's Republic of China made a grand showcase in the Harbin Trade Fair, shouldering the responsibility of promoting trade relations between Russia and China. Its senior expert Sumer Palkin told Beijing Review that the representation had attended the fair six times, and that the event is becoming ever more prosperous each year. In fluent Chinese, Mr. Palkin said, "The purpose of us attending the trade fair is to help Chinese companies better understand Russia."