HARBIN — China and Russia will hold a series of joint cultural events in China’s border city of Heihe in the northeastern Heilongjiang province and the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk from June 23 to 28.

The events will be divided into four sections featuring high-end exchanges, forums and presentations, tourism and trade, as well as cultural exchanges. A total of 39 events on culture and tourism will be held, including academic seminars and art exhibitions.

Heihe will also partner with e-commerce platforms from both countries to sell crafts, food and cultural products featuring Chinese and Russian elements during the events.

More than 1,000 dancers, musicians, writers and craftsmen, as well as nearly 300,000 members of the public from both countries are expected to participate in the events.

Heihe and Blagoveshchensk face each other across the Heilongjiang River. As China opens its door wider to the world, the two cities see more vibrant people-to-people exchange and trade ties.

On May 31, a 1,284-meter bridge connecting the two cities across the river was joined together. Construction of the bridge began in December 2016, and is expected to complete in October.