In recent years, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province has leveraged its geographical advantages, strengthened its role as a key gateway for the Belt and Road Initiative, expanded opening-up and promoted high-quality economic development, Zhang Guojun, Party secretary of Mudanjiang city in Heilongjiang province, said in an interview with China Daily on the sidelines of the ongoing two sessions.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), Heilongjiang will shoulder the major mission of building "a pivotal gateway for the nation's northward opening-up" and continue accelerating high-quality revitalization and development, said Zhang, who is also a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.

Throughout the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Heilongjiang optimized its trade structure, strengthened cross-border industrial clusters and improved the efficiency of domestic and international connectivity, Zhang said.

"Despite mounting pressures, Heilongjiang's foreign trade doubled, achieving an average annual growth rate of 15.2 percent during the 14th Five-Year Plan period," he said.

In 2025, the province's total export value rose 5 percent year-on-year. Exports to Russia increased 21.8 percent, exports to countries participating in the BRI rose 11.6 percent and exports to African nations climbed 28.4 percent.

"As a major border city in China, Mudanjiang is vigorously developing an open economy and striving to build itself into a hub of openness,"Zhang said.

Last year, the city's exports of high-value-added products — including electric passenger vehicles, lithium batteries and solar cells — surged 4.4 times, signaling a qualitative upgrade in the province's export structure, he added.

Zhang said the province has strengthened its opening-up platforms, with the free trade zone playing a leading role, while promoting institutional innovation and industrial clustering.

The approval of the Mudanjiang industrial collaboration park last year injected strong momentum into Heilongjiang's opening-up and development, Zhang said.

"As we enter the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we will formulate and implement a comprehensive plan to accelerate the development of a pivotal gateway for the nation's northward opening-up," he said.