BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia on Friday started the "Tourism Year of Russia", a move designated to foster exchanges and friendship between the two countries and their peoples.
Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and his Russian counterpart Vladislav Surkov attended the opening ceremony of the theme year at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
In a congratulatory message to the ceremony, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao hailed the traditional friendship and current bilateral ties, which, as he described, has reached an "uNPRecedented new level."
Wen urged the two countries, both rich in tourism resources, to expand cooperation and make the theme year a success to showcase Russia's natural landscape, history, culture, arts and its current social momentum.
In 2011, more than 800,000 Chinese tourists took Russia as the first stop of their overseas trip, and the number of Russian tourists to China exceeded 2.5 million, Wen said.
"However, these numbers do not conform with the level of our bilateral friendship, cooperation and strategic ties," Wen said.
In his own message to the ceremony, Russian Prime Minister and president-elect Vladimir Putin said the expansion of a social foundation for strengthening bilateral ties is of great importance.
Putin recalled the exchanges and events organized by the two countries in recent years, saying he believes the "Tourism Year of Russia" will provide more chances for Chinese people to better understand Russia.
As agreed by the two heads of state, China and Russia will hold "Tourism Year of Russia" in China in 2012 and the "Tourism Year of China" in Russia in 2013.
More than 200 events are scheduled to be held during the "Tourism Year of Russia."