Forty Chinese and Russian journalists returned to Beijing on Wednesday after a 16,000-kilometer road trip to discover the bonds between the two nations.

 

Riding in 13 off-road vehicles, the journalists traveled through more than 20 cities before arriving in Moscow's Red Square in just 33 days, 12 days ahead of schedule.

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in a meeting with the media group, said, "I thank you for your coverage. You have revealed the true and multi-faceted Russia to the Chinese people."

 

The journalists had filed about 500 stories and 800 photos on the road of "China-Russia friendship" since their departure on July 25.

 

"This journey will be a long march carrying forward China-Russia friendship," Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said at the starting ceremony.

 

The journalists represented major media organizations, including China Radio International, which organized the activity, China Central Television, Xinhua News Agency, Itar-Tass, Russian First Channel, the Russian News and Information Agency and the Voice of Russia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2006)