Source: CCTV.com

11-09-2006 12:21

It's been a year of both reminiscence and discovery, for China and its northern neighbor, Russia. The historical bond has been fortified, largely through art and music.

It's always exciting to make friends from afar. And when Russia set up a cultural feast for China, it stirred profound feelings in the hearts of two generations.

Rarely can another country be such an emotional trigger. But exchange between the two nations goes way back. China came to know, and idolize Russia through the Bolshoi ballet, Gorky novels, and masterful oil paintings. And this year's comprehensive display of Russian culture has made cross-border ties still more secure.