Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov Friday, ahead of the debut of the "Year of Russian Language" in China.

In the "Year of Russian Language", the two nations will hold more than 260 cultural exchange activities in 14 provinces, four autonomous regions and four municipalities in China.

The activities include language and singing contests, art performances, literature and arts exhibitions, and the launch of a Russian language TV channel.

In his opening remarks, Wen said the fifth China-Russia trade promotion conference held Friday morning was successful and had fruitful results.

He said he believed the opening ceremony of the "Year of Russian Language" in Beijing Friday night would be a success and a good start for the Years of the Chinese and Russian Languages.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev announced the start of the Years of the Chinese and Russian Languages on Dec. 31, 2008.

China will launch the "Year of Russian Language" this year, while Russia will stage the "Year of Chinese Language" in 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2009)