Activities of the "Year of Russia in China" in the first half of
this year have achieved "initial results" and injected "new vigor"
into Sino-Russian friendship and cooperation, said Assistant
Foreign Minister Li Hui.
Li, also secretary-general of the Chinese organizing committee
of the "Year of Russia" and the "Year of China," said in an
interview with Xinhua that such activities have yielded "remarkable
effect" and "extensive influence."
The "Year of Russia in China" started on January 1 this year as
President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin made the
announcement in the exchange of their new year's greetings.
Chinese statistics show that nearly 80 of the total 207
activities, covering almost every field of bilateral exchanges and
cooperation, have been held in China so far including most of the
eight large-scale ones at the national level.
Working groups of the Chinese organizing committee, concerning
political, economic and trade, education, health, sports, media,
science, technology and military fields, have also conducted
activities in various forms and in different places in China.
It is worth mentioning that Putin paid a state visit to China in
March, during which the two heads of state addressed the opening
ceremonies of the "Year of Russia" and a high-level bilateral
economic forum.
During the visit, the two sides also signed a joint statement
and more than 20 cooperative documents covering a wide range of
areas.
Media reports of both countries spoke highly of the fruitful
visit, saying the result of this visit demonstrated the high level
of Sino-Russian strategic and cooperative partnership and laid a
sound political foundation for furthering bilateral
cooperation.
Over 800 government officials, experts, scholars and business
people from the two countries also gathered in Beijing during the
visit at the economic forum to discuss how to raise bilateral trade
volume to US$60-80 billion by 2010 from US$29.1 billion last
year.
Meanwhile, a series of cultural activities such as the Russian
cultural festival, "Moscow Week" in China's capital city Beijing
and "St. Petersburg Week" in China's business hub Shanghai
entertained the Chinese people with the rich Russian culture.
These activities have played an "important role" in promoting
mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples,
expanding bilateral substantial cooperation, and enhancing
bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership, according to
Li.
Jiang Yi, a scholar with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,
said such activities have helped bring the two peoples closer and
enhanced their mutual understanding.
It is learned that there will be more colorful activities in the
latter half of this year including the 40-day China-Russia
friendship trip by journalists from Beijing to Moscow, bilateral
legislative round-table meeting, functions marking the 57th
anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Russian diplomatic ties, a
series of exhibitions about the various sides of Russia, investment
promotion week, and closing ceremony of the "Year of Russia."
Li said he is convinced that all activities will be "smoothly
and successfully completed with the concerted efforts of both
sides."
He disclosed that the two sides have started preparation for the
"Year of China in Russia" scheduled for 2007.
(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2006)
