Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili has called for promotion of Sino-Russian cooperation in education, science, technology and culture.

The two countries are facing new opportunities to boost their educational, scientific and cultural exchanges and cooperation in view of the current Year of Russia in China and the Year of China in Russia, scheduled for 2007, Chen said during her recent inspection tour in northeastern Heilongjiang Province, which borders Russia.

School exchange programs should be expanded to boost the teaching of Russian in China and Chinese in Russia, Chen urged.

She also said Chinese universities, research institutes and companies should be encouraged to cooperate with their Russian counterparts on technological research and development.

Non-governmental cultural exchanges between the two countries should also be encouraged and supported, she said.

Source: Xinhua