The opening ceremony of the "Year of Russian Language" is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on March 27, 2009. Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov attended the ceremony on Friday. [Xinhua]

The opening ceremony for the "Year of Russian Language" was held on Friday night as China and Russia seek to boost cultural exchanges and bilateral ties.

Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov attended the opening ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

In the "Year of Russian Language", the two nations will hold more than 260 cultural exchange activities in 14 provinces, four autonomous regions and four municipalities in China.

The activities include language and singing contests, art performances, literature and arts exhibitions, education exchanges and the launch of a Russian language TV channel.

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2009)