国内英语新闻:China, Russia willing to expand cultural cooperation: senior officials

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia are willing to further advance cooperation on the humanities sector, said senior Chinese and Russian officials here Monday.

At the 11th session of the China-Russia commission on cooperation on humanities, Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong hailed the significant part cultural exchanges and cooperation has played to consolidate the social basis of China-Russia relations.

The China-Russia commission on cooperation on humanities has made considerable achievements since its foundation ten years ago, said Liu, who laid a particular emphasis on the successful staging of reciprocal national years and language years in the two countries in recent years.

Such events have injected new momentum into the comprehensive deepening of Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation, she said.

Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (2nd R) visits St. Petersburg State University in St. Petersburg of Russia, Nov. 22, 2010.

Next year marks the 10th anniversary since the signing of Sino- Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, said Liu.

Guided by the principle of China-Russia peace and friendship for generations that was established by the treaty, China is willing to continuously expand cultural cooperation with Russia, enhance traditional friendship between their two peoples, and promote the sustainable, stable and health development of bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation, said Liu.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, who co-chaired the session with Liu, said the fruitful cultural cooperation between Russia and China is of vital importance to promote bilateral friendship and all-round deepening of bilateral ties.

Russia is willing to closely collaborate with China in this regard to further cooperate on humanities, he said.

The session meanwhile summarized major progress made over the past 10 years, during which both sides reached broad consensus on expanding cooperation on education, culture, health, sports, tourism, media, film, dossier, youth, among other sectors.

After the session the two sides announced the setting up of a new subcommission on youth cooperation. Liu and Zhukov also attended a signing ceremony that witnessed the seal of several agreements on bilateral cultural, tourism and broadcasting cooperation.

Also on Monday, Liu visited St. Petersburg State University and Repin Academy of Fine Arts, where she encouraged teachers and students to actively engage in bolstering cultural exchanges between China and Russia.

Liu arrived in St. Petersburg on Nov. 20, kicking off her visit to Russia.