Li said cooperation between the two nations in recent years has witnessed new characteristics, including the improved trade mix, expanded energy cooperation, and growing cross-border and regional cooperation.

"Compared with high-level China-Russia political relationship and enormous cooperation potential, there are still rooms for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, which maintains sound momentum of development," he said.

The ambassador urged both sides to elevate China-Russia economic and trade cooperation to new heights and comprehensively deepen pragmatic cooperation in all respects.

Referring to the development of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides, Li said the decision to hold the year-long "China-Russia Tourism Year" is an "important consensus" made between the two heads of state based on the everlasting friendship and the development of comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

The reciprocal "Tourism Years" is the third theme year to be held between China and Russia following the "National Years" in 2006 and 2007, and the "Years of Language" in 2009 and 2010.

Li said such events would promote China-Russia cultural and people-to-people exchanges, deepen mutual understanding of the two peoples, cement traditional friendship and play a far-reaching role in expanding cooperation in all fields between the two countries.

"Taking the opportunities of the 'Tourism Years', China and Russia will further promote cooperation in all respects, such as education, science, culture, public health, and sports," he added.

He said that the Chinese Culture Center in Russia would be launched by the end of the year, and the Confucius Institute program was going on smoothly.

The two countries would also further deepen other culture exchanges, such as artistic exchanges, exhibitions, seminars and concerts, Li said.