MOSCOW, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Russians are becoming more interested in Chinese cultures and history, President Vladimir Putin said here on Saturday.

    In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Putin said his compatriots are showing more interest in "China and China's uniquehistory, tradition and cultures."

    The Russian president revealed that his two daughters are practicing martial arts and one of them is learning the Chinese language.

    She may have an understanding of the "genuine" Chinese culture and China's "abundant spiritual and philosophical legacies" through learning Chinese, Putin said.

    "I believe that as the partnership between our two countries grow closer and closer, there will be more and more people learning Russian and Chinese in our two countries, which will in turn further facilitate our mutual understanding," he noted.

    Putin is to pay a state visit China on March 21-22 at the invitation of President Hu Jintao, during which he is to attend the opening ceremony of the Year of Russia in China. Enditem