Chinese official promises more cultural cooperation with Russia

MOSCOW, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong on Monday promised to step up cultural cooperation with Russia.

The visiting Chinese official made the statement while meeting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov.

The steady development of Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation has not only brought forth huge benefits to the peoples of the two countries, but also played an important part in safeguarding world peace and stability, said Liu.

China, along with Russia, is willing to continuously push bilateral relations to new levels by enhancing mutual political trust, deepening pragmatic cooperation and reinforcing coordination in international affairs, Liu added.

Cooperation on humanities has become a new highlight among the flourishing advancement of bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation, according to the Chinese state councilor.

By staging reciprocal national years and language years, Sino-Russian cultural cooperation has reached an unprecedented high level, Liu said.

The success of the "Year of Russian Language" in China in 2009 has made vital contribution toward deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Russian peoples, enriching the connotation of bilateral strategic cooperative partnership, and promoting the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties, she added.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev announced the start of the "Year of Chinese Language" in their respective New Year messages to each other, Liu said.

The upcoming opening ceremony of the "Year of Chinese Language" is set to unveil a whole bunch of activities that will inject new impetus into bilateral cultural exchanges, she said.

Young people of both countries have become inheritors of traditional friendship and good neighborhood, as well as important forces in boosting bilateral relations, said Liu.

During a state visit to Russia last year, President Hu invited some 1,000 Russian students to Chinese summer camps this year, said Liu.

Based on a consensus reached at the 10th session of the China-Russia commission on cooperation on humanities, another 500 students will also come to China for Chinese language summer camps.

All these activities will definitely boost interactions between the two countries' young peoples, she said.

Zhukov spoke highly of the Sino-Russian strategic cooperative partnership and achievements accomplished in bilateral cultural cooperation.

He said the enhancement of interaction and cooperation between Russia and China in all sectors is of special significance to deepening mutual understanding and friendship of the two peoples, as well as promoting all-round development of the Russia-China relationship.

Russia, together with China, is willing to consolidate bilateral cultural cooperation and inject fresh momentum into bilateral ties by successfully staging the various events within the framework of the "Year of Chinese Language."

Liu also encouraged the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory to further dedicate to artistic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Russia while paying a visit there.

At the invitation of Zhukov, Liu, chairwoman of the organizing committee of the China side for the Year of Chinese Language, made the trip to Russia starting Sunday afternoon.