HOHHOT, Feb. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- 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. Enditem