HARBIN, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Fourth China-Russia Expo opened in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Wednesday.

The five-day event is an important platform for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. It is jointly hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Heilongjiang provincial government and Russia's Ministry of Economic Development and Ministry of Industry and Trade.

This year's expo also aims to expand common ground for the building of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, the organizing committee said.

Over 13,000 merchants from 74 countries and regions have signed up to participate in the expo, which accommodates 2,550 booths in a total exhibition area of 86,000 square meters.

The third China-Russia Expo was held in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg last year.