国内英语新闻:Chinese, Russian premiers pledge broader cooperation to enhance ties

As 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia, the two sides should further fortify the idea that the two nations should be friends instead of enemies from generation to generation, Wen added.

Putin, for his part, said the Russia-China trade could return to the pre-crisis level this year. Both countries agreed to expand local currency settlement, and the Chinese yuan will be traded on the Russian foreign exchange market soon.

Russia and China have deepened their cooperation in the fields of banking, investment and energy, said the Russian prime minister.

The two countries launched the language year programs as part of their cultural exchange activities, and will hold tourism year in each other's countries, Putin said.

With the establishment of a youth cooperation mechanism, both sides will further boost exchanges between their young people, he added.

Before the press conference, the two premiers witnessed the signing of 12 cooperation agreements on customs, railway, civil aviation and cultural exchanges.

Later in the day, Wen flew to Moscow to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.