The seventh session of the China-Russia Cooperation Committee on Education, Culture, Health and Sports was held in Beijing on Monday.

The session was co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, both chairmen of the committee.

Chen said that since the sixth session last year, the two sides had conducted 150 cultural exchange programs, the largest ever number for one year, and the programs had also drawn record attendances, mainly of young people.

She hailed the Year of Russia program in China, saying the program had provided great opportunities to deepen China-Russia cultural cooperation, and hoped the Year of China program, to be held in Russia in 2007, would achieve similar results.

Zhukov said he hoped the two sides could strengthen cooperation and promote the work of the committee.

He said the Russian side would do all it could to make the Year of China program in Russia a success.

The two signed a summary of this session. Xinhua News Agency and the Russian Information Agency also signed an agreement on news exchange and cooperation after the session.

Zhukov will also visit Shanghai where he will hold talks with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi.

Source: Xinhua