Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui told a press conference Thursday that during Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming state visit to China from March 21 to 22 at the invitation of President Hu Jintao, the two heads of states will jointly attend the opening ceremony of the Year of Russia and a Sino-Russian business summit forum.

The Year of Russia scheduled for 2006 and the Year of China in Russia for 2007 were declared by both heads of states last year to push forward the Sino-Russian strategic partnership. The two presidents announced the beginning of the Year of Russia from Jan. 1 in 2006 when exchanging New Year's greetings.

Li Hui said that holding the activities of the Year of Russia and the Year of China is an important political decision made by the two heads of states.

Both sides attach great importance to these activities, Li said, acknowledging that the two heads of states exchanged views on this issue on a number of occasions and organizing committees were setup in both countries.

China's organizing committee was established in Nov. last year, with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi as the president and 10 taskforces established.

Li said China and Russia now had made a general list for the program of the Year of Russia, including more than 200 activities covering such spheres as politics, economy, trade, culture, education, health, sports, press, science, technology and military.

Among these activities, eight large ones at state level will also be held, such as economic and business summits, national exhibitions, Russian culture week, investment promotion week, a legislature round-table meeting and regional cooperation this year.

Li Hui said this is the first time that China and Russia has held such activities in the history of the development of bilateral relations.

The two events of the Year of Russia and the Year of China, a san epitome of Sino-Russian friendship, will be conducive for the two sides to increase traditional friendship, enhance cooperation in various fields, and achieve common prosperity, and will also make new contribution to world peace and development, Li said. The Chinese official website of the Year of Russia and the Year of China, www. 2006rus.com, was officially launched on Thursday, Li added, believing that under the joint efforts of both sides, the two events will be sure to succeed.

Russian Ambassador to China Sergey Razov said at the press conference that Russia-China relations are currently enjoying the best period of their history.

The activities of the Year of Russia and the Year of China will help increase mutual-understanding between the people of the two nations, and to make them to learn better about present Russia and China, the ambassador said, noting that such activities would be good examples of Russia-China cooperation in the international arena.

Razov voice the hope that with these activities, a new vitality will be injected into the growth of Russia-China relations, and the two sides would promote all-round cooperation in various fields and enhance mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.