国内英语新闻:China, Russia hail prospects for bilateral ties

MOSCOW, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Russian officials and experts have expressed optimism on further expansion of Sino-Russian ties on the eve of a visit here by Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday that Xi’s visit to Russia would further promote bilateral cooperation.

Xi was invited by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to attend the inauguration of the Year of Chinese Language, and the opening ceremony of the second round of dialogue between the Chinese and Russian ruling parties, Qin Gang said.

"The Year of Chinese Language will promote mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Russian people, which would also enhance the two countries' cultural cooperation," he said.

At a press conference for the upcoming Year of Chinese Language held here on Wednesday, Li Hui, Chinese ambassador to Russia, said the language year would be conducive to nurturing language talents and deepening the bilateral relationship.

"I hope that, through the Year of Chinese Language, Russian people, particularly the young people, will understand Chinese society and traditional culture,” he said.

China held the Year of Russian Language in 2009 and, with this year's reciprocation in Russia, is an effort to further consolidate the bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation.

Li said previously the Year of Chinese Language, with its many events, would write a new page in China-Russia ties and elevate bilateral relations to a new high.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Alexander Lukin, director of the Center for East Asia and Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies at Moscow State University for International Relations, said Russia-China ties, which have been developing smoothly, are at their best in history.

The current ties between Russia and China are entirely equal and are based on practical interests, Lukin said.

"The two countries have almost no contradictions. Both support a multi-polar world and oppose a global structure dominated by a certain country," he said.

Several leading Russian Sinologists, who attended a recent reception for the traditional Chinese lantern festival, all hailed the achievements made in Russia-China relations in recent years.

Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Denisov and Mikhail Titarenko, chairman of the Russia-China Friendship Association, said the frequent high-level exchanges in 2009, joint celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Russia-China diplomatic relations and the success of the Year of Russian Language had played a key role in deepening bilateral relations.

They said Russia-China relations would maintain sound development in 2010 and a series of grand events, including the Year of Chinese Language, would further boost bilateral ties.