January 2025 · Moscow, Russia — Asian Funeral Forum (Moscow Special Meeting · China–Russia Session)

• Time: January 15–18, 2025

• Venue: Moscow, Russia

• Theme: China–Russia Intersection — Diversity in Funeral Culture and Industrial Cooperation

• Organizers: Asian Funeral Association,

• Co-organizers: Relevant Chinese and Russian funeral industry institutions

• Overview: This meeting is a small-scale China–Russia special exchange, focusing on China–Russia funeral culture, equipment technology, and market cooperation, and promoting the establishment of a practical exchange mechanism between the two sides.

Meeting Scale

• Participants: 10, mainly Chinese and Russian delegates

• Exhibiting companies: no large-scale corporate exhibition area; mainly small-scale exchanges between the Chinese and Russian sides

Core Topics

1. China–Russia Funeral Culture Dialogue

• Russian Orthodox funeral traditions and modern practice

• Features of funeral rites in the Chinese Confucian cultural sphere

• Comparison of Chinese and Russian life rituals and views on life and death

2. Funeral Equipment and Technology Cooperation

• Environmental standards for cremators and equipment import/export

• Comparison of body preservation technologies

• Cross-border application of cemetery management systems

3. Exhibition and Market Cooperation

• Operating experience of large Russian funeral exhibitions

• Practicalities and challenges of China–Russia cross-border participation

• Integration of online and physical exhibitions

Cultural Demonstrations

• Special demonstration of Russian Orthodox funeral rites: a small-scale special viewing at a Moscow Orthodox church, presenting prayer rituals, farewell kisses, and cemetery memorial customs

• Special presentation on Chinese Confucian funeral culture: introducing core rites and modern practices of Chinese Confucian funerals

Field Visits

• Moscow Troekurovskoye Cemetery: visit a federal-level model cemetery in Russia to learn about Orthodox cemetery planning and management

• Novodevichy Cemetery: visit Moscow's famous historical and cultural cemetery and observe celebrity tomb art

• Russian funeral equipment factory: visit a local cremator manufacturer to learn about its technical features

Key Outcomes

• Signing of the Moscow Declaration — the Asian Funeral Association and the Russian Funeral Exhibition Organizing Committee reached strategic cooperation:

• Establish a China–Russia funeral industry information exchange mechanism

• Promote mutual recognition research on China–Russia funeral equipment technical standards

• Support Chinese and Russian enterprises in mutually exploring each other's markets

• Follow-up meeting arrangements will be announced separately, with priority given to promoting China–Russia funeral industry cooperation