BEIJING, Mar. 6 -- As part of the cultural exchange program for the "Year of Russia in China" between police departments from the two countries, a delegation of 31 artists from the Interior Ministry of the Russia Federation paid a two-day visit to Shanghai over the weekend.

    The group was the highest ranking party of Russian police to meet with Chinese counterparts to discuss cultural affairs, according to officials.

    It was also the first time that Russian and Chinese police actors performed together, they added.

    Prior to their journey to the city, the State Academy Ensemble of Russia's Ministry of the Interior spent two days in Beijing.

    Zhou Jie, director of the Culture Office under the Ministry of Public Security, said artistic communication, compared with cooperation on fighting crimes, between police from the two countries is expected to create a more profound effect and arouse common emotion more easily.

    "Russian artists bring us songs and dances that people of my age were very familiar with when we were young," said the middle-aged woman. "Such means of communication can be more acceptable and touching."

    On Saturday night Russian artists together with Shanghai police performers presented local officers with a 90-minute show at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.

    Set up in 1973, the State Academy Ensemble of Russia's Ministry of the Interior has performed in more than 60 countries.

    Selected from more than 200 members of the troupe, the team of 31 Russian artists brought along many classical songs that were well known to Chinese people as well as several Chinese songs including the famous "Jasmine," said Shostikov Igor, vice director of the ensemble.

    "Learning Chinese songs did not take much time as it was not complicated," he said. "The tune can be quickly memorized once heard."

(Source: Shanghai.gov.cn)