Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke highly of the
people-to-people contact between Russia and China, saying it helped
to promote bilateral relations.
"People's diplomacy has largely helped save the Russian and
Chinese peoples' traditional feelings of empathy to each other," he
said in a congratulation letter to the 50th anniversary of the
Russian-Chinese Friendship Society.
"(It) promoted normalization of inter-state ties and raise them
to the level of a trustful partnership and strategic interaction,"
Kremlin press service quoted him as saying.
"All through these years, the society has been working
effectively to strengthen mutual understanding and all-round
cooperation with our great neighbor -- the People's Republic of
China," Putin said.
Russia and China have hosted two reciprocal theme years since
2006 to further bilateral ties. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is to
visit Moscow and put an end to the "Year of China" in Russia early
November.
(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2007)
