Mudanjiang, a strategic border city in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, is positioning itself as a critical gateway for the nation’s ambitious northward opening-up strategy. According to Zhang Guojun, Party Secretary of Mudanjiang and deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress, the city is leveraging its geographical advantages to accelerate high-quality economic development within the Belt and Road Initiative framework.
During the recent Two Sessions meetings, Zhang revealed that Heilongjiang province has achieved remarkable foreign trade growth despite global economic pressures. The region recorded a doubling of foreign trade volume throughout the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), maintaining an impressive average annual growth rate of 15.2%. Particularly noteworthy was the 2025 performance, which saw a 5% year-on-year increase in total export value, with exports to Russia surging by 21.8%, BRI participant countries by 11.6%, and African nations by 28.4%.
The transformation of Mudanjiang’s export structure signals a qualitative economic upgrade. The city witnessed a staggering 4.4-fold increase in exports of high-value-added products, including electric passenger vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar cells. This shift toward technology-intensive exports demonstrates the region’s successful industrial modernization efforts.
Heilongjiang has strengthened its institutional framework for economic expansion, with the free trade zone playing a pivotal role in driving innovation and industrial clustering. The recent approval of the Mudanjiang Industrial Collaboration Park has provided additional momentum to the province’s development trajectory.
As China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), Heilongjiang is tasked with the significant mission of establishing itself as a comprehensive pivot for the nation’s northward economic strategy. Provincial authorities are formulating comprehensive plans to accelerate this development, ensuring Mudanjiang’s transformation into a hub of international connectivity and economic vitality.