China and Russia will hold a closing ceremony for the Year of Russia in China in Beijing on the evening of Nov. 9, a senior Chinese diplomat said Wednesday.

The closing ceremony will be held during the 11th meeting of the Chinese premier and Russian prime minister from Nov. 9 to 10.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui and Russian Ambassador to China Sergei Razov co-chaired a news conference briefing on the closing activities of the "Year of Russia" in Beijing on Wednesday.

Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov will attend the closing ceremony and deliver speeches, Li said, adding that following the ceremony, the Russian Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra will entertain the audience.

A series of activities including the National Exhibition on Russia and the Sino-Russian Investment Promotion Week will also be held during the prime minister's visit.

The National Exhibition on Russia will take place in the Beijing International Trade Center from Nov. 8 to 13. It will showcase over 500 booths covering an area of 10,900 square meters, displaying cutting-edge products and technologies from hi-tech industries with over 1,500 Russian participants.

"This is an exhibition at the highest level covering the broadest fields and attended by the largest number of Russian people in recent years," Li noted.

The Sino-Russian Investment Promotion Week will start on Nov. 9 and will feature 13 promotional activities aimed at boosting bilateral investment.

In 2004 and 2005, two investment promotion sessions were held leading to 19 project agreements or letters of intent being signed.

Li said the two sides will determine a new array of investment cooperation projects this time.

A joint communique will be released during the 11th regular meeting between the prime ministers and the two sides will sign sweeping documents on bilateral cooperation, Li said.

The two countries will sum up the outcome of the "Year of Russia", and outline activities for the coming "Year of China in Russia", Li added.

Razov said the Russian government had provided US$12.5 million towards funding the activities of the "Year of Russia", and over 400 Russian delegations have visited China, holding more than 20 promotion seminars in China this year alone.

Trade volume between the two countries reached US$24.64 billion in the first 9 months of 2006, up 18.8 percent year-on-year with trade likely to hit US$36 billion, a new record.

More than 200 activities were held during the "Year of Russia". Li said these activities have promoted mutual understanding and friendship.

"I believe these activities will further strengthen the traditional friendship between our two countries and push forward the China-Russia strategic partnership," Razov said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2006)