President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir
Vladimirovich Putin participated in the opening ceremony of the
"Year of China" in Russia in the Kremlin Monday evening.
The two heads of state vowed to take the chance of the event to
further promote the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of
cooperation in all aspects.
Addressing the opening ceremony of this theme year, which is a
reciprocal event of the "Year of Russia" in China last year, Hu
hailed the history and achievements of Russia and its people as
well as the friendship between the two peoples.
"Headed by President Putin, Russia has witnessed political
stability and fast economic growth. The Russian people are leading
a better life, too," Hu said.
Russia has played an important role in international and
regional affairs, which enabled Russia to gain respect from the
international community, Hu noted.
"As a friendly neighbor and strategic partner, the Chinese
government and people are sincerely happy about that," Hu
added.
Since the establishment of the strategic partnership, the
cooperation between the two countries has been keeping growing and
fruitful, Hu said.
China and Russia decided to mark the theme years during Hu's
visit to Russia in 2005, for the sake of enhancing the mutual
understanding and friendship, as well as ensuring the sound and
steady long-term development of the Sino-Russian strategic
partnership of cooperation, he noted.
Hu spoke highly of the "Year of Russia" in China, during which
over 300 events were presented to hundreds of thousands of Chinese
people. While in the coming "Year of China," 200 events covering
politics, economy, science and culture will be held in Russia.
Besides showcasing its splendid culture and history, China is
also expected to present the fruits of its reform and opening-up
policy in the theme year, which will promote the cooperation in
various fields and strengthen the people-to-people contact in the
two countries, so as to further revitalize the growth of
Sino-Russian relations.
China is ready to continue working with Russia to further
implement the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and
Cooperation, deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation and strategic
coordination, promote common development and contribute to the
building of a harmonious world featuring lasting peace and common
prosperity, Hu pledged.
Putin also hailed the successful "Year of Russia" in China, by
saying that the decision to mark the theme years is of "strategic
significance."
"The theme years will uplift the bilateral relation to a new
level and serve as a foundation for the future cooperation between
the two peoples," he said.
He spoke highly of the strategic partnership of cooperation and
foresaw a promising development for bilateral relations in the
future.
(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2007)
