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Chinese lunar New Year marked in Russia's Northern Capital

Xinhua, February 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

A grand ceremony was organized Wednesday in Russia's northern capital of St. Petersburg to celebrate the start of Chinese lunar New Year which falls on Thursday.

As part of the initiative to celebrate the Chinese New Year in the Russian city, the iconic Winter Palace Bridge on the banks of the Neva River in St. Petersburg has been adorned with red lanterns. According to Chinese Lunar Calendar, the year of 2015 is the Year of the Sheep.

While addressing the celebrating function, Chinese Consul- General in St. Petersburg Ji Yanchi extended season's greetings to residents of St. Petersburg and the local Chinese community. Ji said last year marked a high point in the history of Sino-Russian relations, with continuing close high-level contacts between the two countries, unprecedented military and diplomatic partnership, and a rapid extension of grass-roots cooperation.

Ji hailed St. Petersburg as the "cultural capital" of Russia, with its humanistic learning and a well-educated population showing an ever-increasing interest in all things Chinese, while calling for expansion of cooperative ties between Russia and China in line with the positive trends of recent years.

The initiative to celebrate the Chinese New Year in the Russian city, which has been regarded as a profound gesture of friendship, will help local residents improve their understanding of Chinese culture and help advance relations between the two peoples and strengthen the Sino-Russian strategic relationship, said Ji. Endite