Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit Beijing in March to attend the grand opening ceremony of the Year of Russia in China.

The news was announced at a press conference held yesterday by Russian Ambassador Serge Razov.

Razov said Putin's tour will formally kick off a series of events designed to "promote understanding between the broad layers of society in the two countries and encourage co-operation in all spheres."

In addition to that trip, President Putin will visit Shanghai in June to attend the summit meeting of Shanghai Co-operation Organization, which will be marking its fifth anniversary then, according to Razov.

China and Russia have decided to hold the Year of Russia in China next year and the Year of China in Russia in 2007.

First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev heads the organizing committee on the Russian side, while Vice-Premier Wu Yi is in charge of the Chinese organizing committee.

The plan for the Year of Russia in China, which includes more than 250 events, has already been submitted to the Chinese side, said the ambassador, but no details of the events are currently available.

During the press conference, Razov drew attention to a series of important developments in the Sino-Russian relationship this year, saying Russia would like to work with China to further pragmatic co-operation in every area and make new breakthroughs in key areas such as economy, trade, science and technology.

Russia and China have stepped up economic co-operation this year and the two-way trade volume is predicted to reach US$29 billion, 33 per cent more than last year.

"China very likely will become Russia's second largest trading partner after Germany," Razov said.

Beijing and Moscow have targeted a trade volume somewhere between US$60 billion and US$80 billion by 2010.

Source: China Daily