Igor A. Rogachev left Beijing Saturday for his country, concluding his 13-year term as Russian ambassador to China.

Rogachev told Xinhua at the airport that Russia and China were strategic partners to each other and that he hopes China will continue its peaceful rise and bring peace and stability to the world.

The 73-year-old ambassador spent more than 20 years in China, witnessing different phases of relations between his country and China.

Rogachev made great contributions to promoting Sino-Russian relations, from difficult situations in the past to the current establishment of the strategic cooperative partnership, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing once made such comments on Rogachev's efforts.

Rogachev will take his new post in the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation after returning to his homeland. Russian Vice Foreign Minister Sergei Razov is expected to become the new ambassador to China, replacing Rogachev.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2005)