President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin have attended the grand opening ceremony of the "Year of Russia" in Beijing. And the "Year of China" will be held in Russia next year. Experts hail the two big events to be of great significance in promoting Sino-Russian relations. During the Year of Russia in Beijing, eight national events and about 200 activities will be unfolded throughout the year involving political, economic, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries. Sino-Russian relations are expected to reach an unprecedented high level.

Being different from the "Year of Friendship", "Year of Culture" and "Year of Youth Friendship" that can be frequently found as bilateral activities, the "Year of Russia" and the "Year of China" are quite extraordinary because of the super-high standards and super-large scale. Not only the supreme leaders of both countries give their support to the event, governments of different levels and notable figures also spare no efforts in them. The "Year of Russia" and the "Year of China" demonstrate the flourishing Sino-Russian relations based on the aspiration of both countries for a newly-structured Sino-Russian relations and accumulative achievements that have been made on bilateral relations in recent years.

The "Year of Russia" arises from distinctive development of Sino-Russian relations. Over the past ten more years, the two countries witnessed a development from mutually friendly states to constructive partnership, then to the current strategic partnership as well as good neighbors. The statistics of 2005 itself can easily demonstrate the blooming friendly relationship between the two countries.

Last year, the presidents of the two countries held four meetings and their premiers also met regularly. Economic and trade cooperation showed strong momentum with the volume of bilateral trade surged up by 37.1%. Mutual investment between the two countries continued to increase. The high-tech cooperation is on the rise. The two countries also held their first joint military exercise in 2005.

Obviously, the high level interaction between China and Russia has been manifested in different industries and domains. In the scenario, the "Year of Russia" and "Year of China" give expression to the aspiration of both the governments and common people of the two countries.

Both the "Year of Russia" currently held in Beijing and the "Year of China " to be held in Moscow next year aim to build a platform for mutual exchange and cooperation between the two countries and to promote mutual understanding of their people.

After several decades of isolation between the two countries, both Chinese and Russians have fallen behind with their knowledge about each other. Many Russians, although favoring Asian vogue, have no basic knowledge about Chinese traditions. They also have no idea on how China has changed with each passing day in the new era.

Similar with Russians, many Chinese only get their impression on Russia from some literary and art work of the former Soviet Union in the 1950s.

Undoubtedly, both countries are witnessing radical changes for the time being. Only when their people stay on top of their knowledge and mutual understanding, can the two countries find common targets and interest in bilateral relations and develop shoulder to shoulder.

A nine-storied tower rises from a heap of earth; a thousand miles journey starts with the first step. Both China and Russia need to keep strengthening the foundation of their bilateral relations. The consolidated foundation lies in the mutual understanding between the people of the two countries, the consensus on the common national interest and the strengthening friendship and cooperation in frequent contacts.

The Year of Russia will provide bountiful opportunities for Chinese people to know more about the reviving Russia. And in Year of China in 2007, Russian people can also access to the updated knowledge about what's happening in China. Along with the success of the two events, Sino-Russian relations are expected to reach a new peak.

The article is written by Senior editor of People's Daily and translated by People's Daily Online.

(People's Daily Online March 23, 2006)