A grand ceremony was held to launch "Year of Russia" Sunday on
the occasion of China's Lantern Festival in Manzhouli City, China's
leading inland port on the China-Russia border, in North China's
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
More than 2000 Russian tourists joined the local people in
celebrating the Chinese traditional festival while attending the
opening ceremony in the city decorated with lanterns.
Yu Dehui, vice chairman of the regional government, said Inner
Mongolia Autonomous Region enjoys broad contacts with Russia,
expressing his hope that "Year of Russia" will bring closer trade
and economic ties between the two countries.
Mart Vieva, vice chairman of Republic of Tuva, said that the
launching of "Year of Russia" also means the beginning of a new
stage of closer links in trade, economy, technology and culture
between the eastern Siberian region of the Russian Federation and
China.
Manzhouli, equipped with highly-developed railway and highway
systems, handles 60 percent of the freight between China and
Russia.
(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2006)
