By Lu Xinyan

The Hi Craft exhibition has recently opened at the Russia Ningbo Chamber of Commerce in Moscow, bringing a selection of Ningbo's traditional crafts and city-themed materials to the local business community.

The exhibition features intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, publications about Ningbo and custom-designed engraved seals. Incorporated into the chamber's reception and business activities, the display gives Ningbo entrepreneurs' Russian partners an opportunity to learn more about the city.

Located inside the Greenwood International Trade Center, the exhibition occupies a compact space showcasing Ningbo's history, port heritage and everyday life. Visitors can browse the books, examine the handicrafts and try the interactive exhibits.

The Greenwood International Trade Center, where the chamber is based, opened in 2011 as a major Chinese investment project in Russia. The center now hosts nearly 500 companies from more than 10 countries and serves as a platform for Chinese businesses entering the Russian market and establishing local operations. Its steady flow of business visitors makes it a natural setting for the Hi Craft exhibition.

Mao Honghui, president of the Russia Ningbo Chamber of Commerce, said the display had added a new dimension to the chamber's business interactions.

"The chamber regularly receives business executives from Ningbo, as well as Russian business partners. In the past, our conversations focused mainly on products and business. Now, a book or handicraft can provide a natural starting point for a conversation about Ningbo," Mao said. "It allows people to see the city behind the companies they work with and gives Ningbo people living overseas a connection to home."

The display has also attracted interest from Russian visitors.

"Through the exhibition and the chamber's introduction, I've gained a much deeper understanding of Ningbo's culture," said Artem Merkulov, an assistant to the president of the chamber.

Mandrukevich Andrey Dmitrievich of Qianyi Pneumatic & Hydraulics Russia said the compact display had left a strong impression. "It's a small space, but it gave us a vivid and memorable impression of Ningbo," he said.

Alik Vladimir of Ningbo Qifeiya Import & Export Co., Ltd. was particularly interested in the traditional handicrafts. "It's my first time seeing these Ningbo heritage crafts. They are beautifully made and offer a glimpse into the city's distinctive cultural traditions," he said.

Rather than setting up large dedicated venues, Hi Craft makes use of existing spaces in corporate offices. A book, a handicraft or a simple conversation can offer a natural starting point for introducing Ningbo's history and culture in the course of everyday business interactions.

The displays will become part of office life, client meetings and employee activities, extending the project's reach to more local staff and business partners.