The celebration of Russia and China years is conducive to the strategic partnership between the two countries and their future cooperation, former Russian ambassador to China Igor Rogachev has said.

The comments correspond to the Year of China in Russia being staged by both nations. The two countries will hold about 200 activities to promote bilateral exchanges, deepen traditional friendship and further boost China-Russia strategic partnerships of coordination.

"Russian and Chinese leaders made a very wise decision to organize the Year of Russia and of China," Rogachev told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Rogachev, who served as head of the Russian mission in China for 13 years, is now a member of the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament.

The bilateral events are the first in history and have proved to be successful and helpful to exchanges between Russia and China, Rogachev said.

The Year of Russia in China, which was staged in 2006, has boosted ties between the two countries in a variety of areas, particularly in economic and trade cooperation, he added.

"Trade between Russia and China grew not only in border regions, but also in the central, southern and western parts of China," he said.

In the past, Russia did not have extensive trade ties with China's Guangdong province and Shanghai. But now Russia's annual trade volume with Guangdong has reached 3 billion U.S. dollars, according to the official.

More than 60 Russian regional chiefs made visits to China last year, leading to a host of cooperation agreements, he said.

Statistics from the Chinese Commerce Ministry show that trade between China and Russia hit a record 33.4 billion dollars in 2006, up 15 percent on the previous year. Russia has become China's eighth-largest trading partner, which in turn is Russia's fourth-largest trade partner.

It is quite possible that two-way trade will meet the target of 60 billion to 80 billion dollars by 2010, Rogachev said.

He said the Year of Russia added to the Russian people's interest in China and last year saw a sharp increase in the number of Russian visitors to China.

Speaking on the prospects of developing economic and trade ties between China and Russia, Rogachev said the high-tech sector has great potential while Russia is also ready for cooperation in transport and aerospace, as well as in the power industry.

Progress is already seen in joint ventures, such as the Baltic Pearl housing project in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, he said.

Rogachev, who has just turned 75, spent over 20 years in China and speaks fluent Chinese. He likes Peking Opera and Chinese folk songs, he said.

His daughter is working in China for a Russian oil company, and his grandson is learning Chinese.

Learning Chinese and choosing a job that is associated with China is a "family tradition," he said.

Source: Xinhua