Ambassador: Language theme years to promote China-Russia cooperation

Source: Xinhua | 03-26-2009 11:21

MOSCOW, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The reciprocal language theme years from 2009 to 2010 are another milestone in efforts by China and Russia to strengthen Sino-Russian friendship and facilitate bilateral strategic cooperation, the Chinese ambassador to Russia says.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia.

The "Years of Languages," an extension of the earlier national theme years, will encourage even more people to learn each other's languages, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Liu Guchang said in a written interview with Xinhua, on the eve of the inauguration of the "Russian Language Year in China."

Teaching the Russian language in China and teaching Chinese in Russia have both recorded rapid development in the past few years, the ambassador said.

About 400 Chinese institutes of higher education have offered Russian language courses, which are also available at many primary and middle schools. Meanwhile, there are 12 Confucius schools, three Confucius classrooms and more than 90 Chinese language centers in Russia.

The language theme years will additionally encourage the two peoples to learn each other's languages and cultures, and thus laya solid social foundation for the development of Sino-Russian relations, Liu said.

Civil exchanges between the two peoples, especially between their youth, are increasingly intensive in recent years, Liu said.