The fourth International Forum "SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation" recently opened in Kazan, Russia, alongside the second overseas touring exhibition of the Yangling Agricultural Hi-Tech Fair·2026 SCO Agricultural Expo—a prominent national-level event based in Shaanxi that promotes agricultural sci-tech innovation and international cooperation.

Launched by the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan of Russia in 2023, the forum takes place in Kazan every year. It serves as a key annual platform for practical sub‑national cooperation between China and Russia. Bringing together local government officials, enterprises and representatives from all sectors of the two countries, the forum runs alongside the China‑Russia International Expo to foster exchanges in trade & investment, logistics, agriculture, science‑education, culture and tourism.

As a key supporting event of this year's Sprout Forum, this overseas touring exhibition centers on Russia‑China mutually‑beneficial cooperation and SCO‑oriented agricultural economic and trade exchanges. It fully showcases achievements in agricultural opening‑up from Shaanxi Province and Yangling, and highlights sci‑tech innovations and specialty agricultural products of local agri‑related enterprises.

More than 20 Shaanxi enterprises, including multiple agribusinesses from Yangling Demonstration Zone, showcased specialty farm goods, light‑industry items, cross‑border trade solutions and industrial supporting services. The exhibition brought Shaanxi's signature agricultural products to the Russian market.

On the opening day, the Organizing Committee of the Sprout Forum and the Preparatory Committee of Yangling Agricultural Hi‑tech Fair signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation. The two sides will carry out practical cooperation in exhibition participation, resource sharing and in‑depth exchanges.

The signing marks a new phase of strategic cooperation between China and Russia in agricultural and exhibition industries. Moreover, government agencies and business representatives from both countries gathered at the Sprout Forum for multiple business negotiations focusing on economic‑trade ties and industrial collaboration.

In recent years, overseas editions of the Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair have expanded globally across SCO member states and Belt and Road partner countries, serving as a key gateway for Shaanxi's agricultural opening-up. "Upcoming overseas exhibitions are scheduled in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Australia and other countries," said an official with the Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair Preparatory Committee.