China and Russia will hold a closing ceremony for the Year of Russia in China
in Beijing on the evening of Nov. 9, a senior Chinese diplomat said Wednesday.
The closing ceremony will be held during the
11th meeting of the Chinese premier and Russian prime minister from Nov. 9 to
10.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui and Russian Ambassador to China
Sergei Razov co-chaired a news conference briefing on the closing activities of
the "Year of Russia" in Beijing on Wednesday.
Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov will attend the closing
ceremony and deliver speeches, Li said.
Following the ceremony, the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra from Russia will
entertain the audience, Li added.
According to Li, a series of activities including the National Exhibition on
Russia and the Sino-Russian Investment Promotion Week will also be held during
the prime minister's visit.
The National Exhibition on Russia will take place in the Beijing
International Trade Center from Nov. 8 to 13. There will be over 500 booths
covering an area of 10,900 square meters, displaying cutting-edge products and
technologies from hi-tech industries with over 1,500 Russian participants.
"This is an exhibition at the highest level covering the broadest fields and
attended by the largest number of Russian people in recent years," Li noted.
The Sino-Russian Investment Promotion Week will start on Nov. 9 and will
feature 13 promotion activities aimed at boosting bilateral investment.
In 2004 and 2005, two investment promotion sessions were held with 19 project
agreements or letters of intent signed.
Li said the two sides will determine a new array of investment cooperation
projects this time.
A joint communique will be released during the 11th regular meeting between
the prime ministers of the two countries and the two sides will sign sweeping
documents on bilateral cooperation, Li said.
The two countries will sum up the outcome of the "Year of Russia", and
outline activities for the coming "Year of China", Li added.
Razov said the Russian government has provided US$12.5 million for funding
the activities of the "Year of Russia", and over 400 Russian delegations have
visited China, holding more than 20 promotion seminars in China this year.
Trade volume between the two countries reached US$24.64 billion in the first
9 months this year, up 18.8 percent year-on-year.
Li said trade volume in 2006 could hit US$36 billion, a new record.
More than 200 activities were held during the "Year of Russia". Li said these
activities have promoted mutual understanding and friendship.
"I believe these activities will further strengthen the traditional
friendship between our two countries and push forward the China-Russia strategic
partnership," Razov said.
