The "Year of China," an event of bilateral exchanges in Russia, will achieve fruitful results like the reciprocal event last year in China, with the support and participation of both sides, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Liu Guchang said Monday.

 

During the "Year of China" in Russia, nearly 200 events will beheld in the fields of politics, trade and economy, culture, science and technology, military affairs, media and regional exchanges, Liu told a news conference in the Chinese embassy.

 

He said the bilateral events, a great pioneering project in the history of China-Russia relations and an important decision made by the two countries' leaders, is aimed at strengthening mutual understanding between the two peoples, boosting pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and facilitating the continuous, in-depth development of their strategic partnership.

 

On the results yielded by the "Year of Russia" in China, Liu said the event has furthered the mutual political trust between the two countries, advanced their pragmatic cooperation, and accelerated their regional cooperation.

 

The ambassador said the impetus and social influence generated by the "Year of Russia" are far beyond the two sides' anticipation, adding that the successful event has provided a series of valuable experiences for the "Year of China" in Russia.

 

When asked about Sino-Russian cooperation in the international arena, Liu said the two countries, both as permanent members of the UN Security Council, have significant responsibility for the world.

 

China and Russia hold the same or similar views and share common interests and concerns on a series of important international issues, he said.

 

The two nations' close cooperation in international affairs, an embodiment of their strategic partnership, has drawn attention from all over the world, said Liu.

 

He said both China and Russia are striving for a multi-polar world and democratization in international relations, and pledge to establish a just and reasonable new order in international politics, as well as to build up a new concept on security of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination.

 

Cooperation between the two countries in the international arena has become an important factor in safeguarding world peace and stability, Liu said.

 

In July 2005, President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin jointly announced that the "Year of Russia" would be held in 2006 in China and the "Year of China" would be held in 2007 in Russia.

 

During the "Year of Russia" in China, which was launched in March 2006, more than 250 events have been held in trade, investment and cultural fields.

 

On December 31, 2006, the two heads of state exchanged new year's greetings and announced the start of the "Year of China" in Russia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2007)