The policy dividend has also catalyzed consumption and trade. Russian tourists are expanding their purchases from traditional light consumer goods to a wider variety of products. Dima Vladimirov, another tourist from Vladivostok, visited a used-car export base in Suifenhe after entering visa-free. "It is extremely convenient to visit China now. Many of my friends drive Chinese cars, which are of great quality. I have already picked one out and am ready to buy it," Vladimirov said.

　　Overland goods transport has also played a part. By end-August, freight volume through Suifenhe port exceeded 1.1 million metric tons, up 9.78 percent year-on-year, hitting a record high.

　　To accommodate the passenger peak, Suifenhe has optimized its services by establishing bilingual windows, implementing a 24-hour Russian-language consumer rights protection platform, and introducing convenient measures such as ruble payments and tax refund shops. Average customs clearance time has shrunk to just two minutes.

　　Furthermore, the official opening of Heilongjiang University's Suifenhe campus in 2026 — offering majors like international trade and Russian translation — provides solid talent support for deepening bilateral cooperation.

　　Anton Bespalov, an expert at the Valdai Discussion Club in Russia, pointed out the broader impact of these changes.

　　"The most direct beneficiaries of the visa-free policy are independent travelers, and the facilitation of exchanges is expected to deepen mutual understanding and stimulate deeper people-to-people connections," Bespalov said.