New era of friendship of China, Russia

When he invited 300 Russian students to visit China during a speech at Moscow State University in April, Vice-Premier Li Keqiang probably expected his invitation would herald a new era for cultural exchanges between young people from the two countries.

He was absolutely right.

On Friday, Viktor Antonovich Sadovnichiy, rector of Moscow State University, extended an invitation to Chinese youth during his visit to China with 300 university students to reciprocate and show Russia's kindness to China.

"I would like to invite 100 Chinese students to Moscow every year to attend a youth forum where 1,000 Russian students communicate with each other on innovative ideas and proposals," Sadovnichiy said during the Russian delegation's meeting with Li in Beijing on Friday.

Also on Friday, the 300 Russian young people from Moscow State University wrapped up their weeklong visit to two historical cities, Xi'an in Shaanxi province and Chengdu in Sichuan province, as part of their 10-day China trip. They are expected to spend the remaining three days in Beijing.

"The 10-day visit is merely a small spark, but I am confident that the single spark can start a prairie fire," Sadovnichiy said.

Li agreed.

"We see a new chapter appearing in exchanges and cooperation between the young people of China and Russia," he said.

During Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China in June, the two nations agreed to promote cultural exchanges between their young people.

As a major part of his five-day visit to Russia in April, Li visited Moscow State University, also the largest and the most comprehensive university in Russia, where he made an impromptu 30-minute speech in the grand hall that has only 1,245 seats but was crowded with more than 1,600 students.

At the conclusion of his speech, Li announced that the Chinese government will sponsor 300 students from Moscow State University to study and travel in China this summer.

"The vice-premier's encouraging speech and the amiable invitation is an unprecedented and grand event in China-Russia relations," said a Russian woman student surnamed Bogroba at the meeting with Li.

As part of the 300-strong delegation, she said she was "very impressed and excited" by what she has experienced in China.

The Russian delegation was divided into two groups, with one going to Shaanxi and the other to Sichuan for six days, with both groups returning to gather in Beijing on Friday.

Bogroba was a member of the group that traveled to Shaanxi, during which they were taken to historical sites, including the Terracotta Warriors, as well as a number of auto factories.

In Sichuan, the students had the opportunity to see pandas, and also visited some earthquake-hit areas in the province.

"What surprised us most was not only the depth of Chinese culture and the nation's ecological variety, but also Chinese students' passion and friendliness," said a student surnamed Kogemob from Moscow State University.

"We are so happy that we made a lot of new Chinese friends, and we hope the friendship could last a long time," he said, singing the Chinese song Great China in fluent Chinese during his meeting with Li on Friday.

The lyrics at the end of the song, "China, we give you our best wishes, and you will live in the hearts of all of us," won applause.

The vice-premier was among those who were immersed in the happy and friendly atmosphere, and he managed to communicate with the students in his own humorous way.

"Thank you for your song and good wishes (to China). I have to say what you sang was much better than what you said," he joked to Kogemob.

Also, "congratulations on your excellent Chinese, and could I therefore ask the respected rector that you needn't take any Chinese exams after your excellent performance here?" he said.

During the one-hour talk with the students, Li said some Russian words like "khorosho" (good) and "spasibo" (thanks). And after the meeting, Li was surrounded by the students, who expressed their warm feelings toward China and willingness to further strengthen China-Russia relations.

"Young people are the ambassadors of the China-Russia relations. I wish you could all be friends forever," said Li.

In 2007, China and Russia agreed to set up a bilateral cultural cooperative committee, and 12 rounds of meetings have been held.

Chinese statistics show that about 13,000 Russian students are studying in China and around 20,000 Chinese students are in Russia. China has set up 21 Confucius Institutes in Russia, and there are 10 Russian centers opening in China.

"I don't think that the long distance between the two nations could hinder the friendship and trust between their people," said Su Qiang, a postgraduate from Xi'an Jiaotong University, who accompanied the delegation on its visit to Shaanxi province.

"We all wish China-Russia friendship will be everlasting," Su said.

The two nations have vowed to establish an all-round strategic and coordinated partnership based on equality and trust.

The two sides set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion in 2015 and $200 billion in 2020.

China is Russia's largest trade partner, and the second-largest export market for Russia.

Trade between China and Russia surged by 42.7 percent year-on-year to $79.25 billion in 2011, outperforming the growth of 22.5 percent for China's foreign trade during the same period, according to the General Administration of Customs.