The "Year of China," an event of bilateral exchanges in Russia,
will achieve fruitful results like the reciprocal event last year
in China, with the support and participation of both sides, Chinese
Ambassador to Russia Liu Guchang said Monday.
During the "Year of China" in Russia, nearly 200 events will
beheld in the fields of politics, trade and economy, culture,
science and technology, military affairs, media and regional
exchanges, Liu told a news conference in the Chinese embassy.
He said the bilateral events, a great pioneering project in the
history of China-Russia relations and an important decision made by
the two countries' leaders, is aimed at strengthening mutual
understanding between the two peoples, boosting pragmatic
cooperation in various fields, and facilitating the continuous,
in-depth development of their strategic partnership.
On the results yielded by the "Year of Russia" in China, Liu
said the event has furthered the mutual political trust between the
two countries, advanced their pragmatic cooperation, and
accelerated their regional cooperation.
The ambassador said the impetus and social influence generated
by the "Year of Russia" are far beyond the two sides' anticipation,
adding that the successful event has provided a series of valuable
experiences for the "Year of China" in Russia.
When asked about Sino-Russian cooperation in the international
arena, Liu said the two countries, both as permanent members of the
UN Security Council, have significant responsibility for the
world.
China and Russia hold the same or similar views and share common
interests and concerns on a series of important international
issues, he said.
The two nations' close cooperation in international affairs, an
embodiment of their strategic partnership, has drawn attention from
all over the world, said Liu.
He said both China and Russia are striving for a multi-polar
world and democratization in international relations, and pledge to
establish a just and reasonable new order in international
politics, as well as to build up a new concept on security of
mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination.
Cooperation between the two countries in the international arena
has become an important factor in safeguarding world peace and
stability, Liu said.
In July 2005, President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin jointly announced that the "Year of Russia" would be
held in 2006 in China and the "Year of China" would be held in 2007
in Russia.
During the "Year of Russia" in China, which was launched in
March 2006, more than 250 events have been held in trade,
investment and cultural fields.
On December 31, 2006, the two heads of state exchanged new
year's greetings and announced the start of the "Year of China" in
Russia.
(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2007)
