A logo with cartoon images of a Chinese panda and a Russian brown bear joining their hands unveiled here Friday for the Russia Year scheduled in 2006 in China.

Against the background of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and the Church of Ascension in Moscow in the round logo, the two cartoon animals wear Chinese and Russian national flags respectively, walking together with hand in hand under the slogan of "Join hands and move forward" in both Chinese and Russian.

Li Hui, assistant to Chinese foreign minister, and Sergei Razov, Russian ambassador to China unveiled the logo at a ceremony Friday.

Li said the Russia Year in China in 2006 and China Year in Russia in 2007 are unprecedented events to promote bilateral relations, adding that they will help to strengthen the friendship between the people from the two countries.

Razov said the logo fully displays the friendship, mutual understanding and affection between the two nations.

The goodwill events will help further step up the strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries, he added.

He hoped the Russia Year in China will offer the Chinese an opportunity to have a better knowledge of Russia's past and today.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Putin will formally announce the kick-off of the event.

The Russia Year in China is expected to include 250 activities on culture, education, economy, political systems and traditional customs.

Source: Xinhua