CRI听力:China-Russia Culture Forum Opens in Beijing

A forum that aims to boost cultural exchanges between China and Russia has recently opened in Beijing.

The two-day forum is composed of five sub-forums discussing topics such as youth culture and entrepreneurship, border cultural exchanges and co-operation between each others' entertainment industries.

Wang Meng, former Chinese Minister of Culture, thinks the exchanges with Russia will inject vitality into the China's contemporary culture.

"A big issue Chinese culture is now faced with is how to carry forward the tradition and retain the characteristics of Chinese culture while joining the best parts of other advanced, more modern cultures. Here, I want to particularly mention that, as China took steps toward modernization, our country has been nurtured by the culture of Russia."

Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky is now in Beijing, with his delegation joining the forum. This is the only the second cultural forum ever held between the two neighboring countries since the first such event was held in last December in Saint Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia.