The sixth Women's Culture Week as well as the fourth Women Forum between China and Russia kicked off in Moscow?Friday.

Speaker of the Russian Federal Council, or the upper house of the parliament, Sergei Mironov extended his warm welcome to the inauguration of the event themed "Women and Economy."

Calling the strategic partnership of cooperation with China one of the top priorities for Russia in its foreign affairs, Mironov said the long-time collaboration between Russian and Chinese women has made great contribution to the deepening of mutual friendship and understanding.

At present, the Russian government and people pay more attention to gender equality and the protection of women rights, said Mironov.

Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Chen Zhili said China and Russia have conducted multi-layer, multi-sector and multi-faceted cooperation, as bilateral relations are on a fast track of comprehensive and profound development.

The senior legislator, who arrived here on Thursday heading a Chinese delegation, also said the friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation between Chinese and Russian women have continued to expand, deepen and strengthen.

The China-Russia Women's Culture Week, as a regular mechanism for bilateral interactions, has become a pivotal platform for Sino- Russian cultural exchanges, in particular the exchanges between women, bearing witness to the friendship between China and Russia, she said.

Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui said the culture week and forum, with rich and colorful events, played a significant role in lifting the friendship between China and Russia to a new level.

After the opening ceremony hosted by Svetlana Orlova, Vice Chairwoman of the Federation Council, representatives from both sides addressed the forum on a number of topics, including national economic policies, women's participation in social and economic activities, and the nurturing of women entrepreneurs.