Made in Russia: China's new trend product

Made in Russia: China's new trend product

In the streets of Beijing and Hong Kong, numerous shops have recently appeared that offer Russian products. The shop windows are decorated in white, blue and red in the colors, while Chinese and Russian flags hang side by side on the ceilings. Child -friendly, kneehohe Matroschkas are welcome the customers at the entrance. Inside the shelves are filled with a variety of Russian goods - from chocolate and cookies to honey and vodka.

Russian products in China in the upswing

in China have spread quickly that have specialized in products from Russia. This development has confused many residents who ask themselves why these businesses appeared overnight.

growing trade relationships between China and Russia

In recent years, thousands of such businesses have been opened nationwide, which serve the preference of the Chinese population for Russia . Against the background of the in -depth trade relationships between Beijing and Moscow, this happened since the beginning of Wladimir Putin's comprehensive invasion in Ukraine in 2022. China has been a decisive economic Lifestyle established for sanctioned Russia, while bilateral trade reaches record heights year after year. In addition to cheap Russian oil, gas and cabbage sports, Russian food products such as ice cream, cookies and milk powder are also enjoying growing popularity.

economic opportunities for Chinese companies

Chinese companies have used the booming demand and since 2022 more than 2,500 new companies in trade with Russian goods have been registered, with almost half of them founded last year alone. Business entries show that about 80 % of these new companies are operational up to the current month.

popularity of Russian branded products

The majority of these companies are based in Heilongjiang, the northeastern province on the border with Russia, has also spread in other provinces in the past two years. Russian chocolate, cookies and milk powder in particular have attracted the attention of the Chinese consumers who react directly to the “Made in Russia” brand propagated by Moscow.

quality concerns and official support

The explosive expansion of these business - described by a Chinese state medium as "crazy" - has also aroused concerns about the authenticity of the products offered. Media and influencers have revealed that some articles marked as Russian were actually manufactured in China. This prompted the authorities to act against misleading markings and advertising.

A look back at the developing trade relationships offers a visit to a Russian goods shop in Beijing, where a seller fills the shelves with carefully packaged sweets and cookies. "The hit hit is a Russian honey - that is well received. And this chocolate is pure. The quality is excellent," she explains.

increased popularity among the Chinese

Public opinion also plays a role: According to a survey by the Tsinghua University in Beijing, 66 % of those surveyed have a very positive or rather positive opinion on Russia, while about 76 % of the USA is unfavorable.

The "Made-in-Russia" enthusiasm can be traced back to the early 2022 when the "Russian State Pavilion"-a online shop supported by the Russian embassy in China-went viral on social media. Within just three days, buyers spent almost 6 million yuan (approx. $ 826,000 $) for Russian products.

review and quality assurance

With the growth of business, the doubts of consumers also grow. Last year, customers on social media complained that some of the Russian -labeled products actually came from China and other countries. An investigation showed that a significant part of the food products in the Russian shops come from Chinese factories.

The Russian embassy in China also warned of “counterfeits” that are issued as Russian products. "These products often do not meet the quality standards and differ from similar products that are manufactured in Russia," said a statement.

future prospects for Russian businesses in China

Despite the controversy over authenticity, the demand for Russian goods remains unbroken, which attracts more and more new shops, including official, in China. The Russian export center is planning to open up to 300 new businesses in cooperation with Chinese partners.

Veronika Nikishina, the General Director of the Russian Export Center, emphasized the importance of distinguishing real Russian products from counterfeits during a festival in Shenyang and wished that all Chinese consumers could buy authentic, high -quality Russian products.

The rapid development of the Russian goods in China therefore symbolically stands for the growing trade relationships and the cultural networking between the two countries.