Chinese President Hu Jintao partook in the opening ceremony of the "Year of China" in Kremlin Monday evening right upon his arrival for a three-day state visit to Russia at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Vladimir V. Putin. The "Year of China" in Russia is another major event after the "Year of Russia in China" last year, and will surely inject a new impetus into the growth of the Sino-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation.

The bilateral events of the year of China and of Russia represent the consensus reached by the leaders of both nations. In July of 2005, President Hu Jintao and President Putin announced the holding of the "Year of Russia" in China in 2006 and the "Year of China in Russia" in 2007. This poses a great undertaking in the annals of Sino-Russia ties in conformity with a prevalent growth momentum in advancing comprehensively the Sino-strategic partnership of cooperation, which gives vivid expression to the aspiration of the people of both nations to "live in friendship from generation to generation" and forever to be "good neighbors', "good partners" and "good friends" to each other.

"The genuine friendship is based on intimate terms," as a popular Chinese saying goes. China and Russia are linked by mountains and rivers, and a deep-rooted traditional friendship between their people has a long history. In new historical conditions, the enhancement of mutual understanding and trust of their people and advancement of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various spheres are of strategic significance to the long-term growth of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation. The reciprocal holding of the Year of China and of Russia is undoubtedly a beneficial attempt or feat to reflect the image of both nations and put up a platform for perception of the all-round feelings and mutual admiration of each other's people.

Looking back the year of 2006, the varied and multicolorful events of the "Year of Russia in China", scored a tremendous success thanks to an all-out backing of the Chinese and Russian governments. During the year, more 200 events, involving politics, economy, culture, science and technology and education, acquainted millions of Chinese people with the longstanding history, splendid culture and remarkable feats of their friendly neighbor.

In the meantime, an immense impact resultant from the reciprocal holding of bilateral events has born fruit. Taking the Year of Russia in China as a pivot, the two countries have never been so active and vigorous as today in their substantial cooperation and exchanges of multi-layers at varied levels with a great intrinsic potential and wide perspective. With an uplifting of their political mutual trust, the two nations have had good cooperation and close communication in the United Nations and other multi-lateral organizations and on a series of major global and regional issues; with a rapid growth in their economic and trade cooperation and a steady growth in investment cooperation, they have launched a batch of major cooperative items with gratifying prospects in such cooperative spheres as energy, transport and communication, education, culture and science and technology. The dense fragrance of "Russia Craze" in China has activated the enthusiasm of people in China, youths in particular, to know more about Russia, and the "Year of Russia" events have, in fact, been turned into genuine festivals for Sino-Russian friendship.

Likewise, the people of Russia have also expected for events of the "Year of China" in Russia. According to a plan worked out by the organizing committee of both sides through consultations , more than 200 major events will be staged within the framework of the "Year of China", covering the spheres of politics, economy, trade, culture, science and technology, military, media, and regional contacts and communications, including a dozen top national events. Among them, the "China National Exhibition" themed on "Win-Win Cooperation for a Harmonious Development," has been the biggest national exhibition of a most wide-ranging scale China has so far held overseas. These events will brief the Russian people on the comprehensive, tremendous achievements China has attained since its reform and opening to the outside world was launched in the late 1970s and early 1980s as well as the cream or quintessence of the Chinese culture with a history of 5,000 years in a bid to further deepen bilateral mutual cooperation in economy, trade, investment, energy and other areas.

The Russian government at different levels is paying close attention to the "Year of China" in Russia. President Valdimir Putin has urged the relevant government units and regions to create all essential conditions to ensure that the "Year of China" activities will proceed smoothly. So there is a full reason to believe that the ongoing "Year of China" in Russia will be crowned with success as the Year of Russia" in China, with the ensuing rise of a sustained "China Craze" on the vast expanse of Russian soil.

By People Daily Online and its author Ma Xiaoning, a PD sub-editor