BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Li Changchun on Monday urged both China and Russia to enhance cultural exchanges in a bid to keep deepening bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation.

    "Cultural exchanges help increase the understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries and bolster the comprehensive growth of bilateral ties," Li said while visiting an exhibition of Russian fine arts at China's National Art Museum in Beijing.

    Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said he believed that such activities would also provide opportunities for the people of both countries to learn from each other and help maintain the diversity of the world culture.

    The exhibition, including 110 Russian masterpieces dating from the 18th to the early 20th century, is a key program of the "Year of Russia" in China, which opened in March during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China.

    The current Year of Russia in China and the Year of China in Russia, scheduled for 2007, were a pioneering project in the history of bilateral relations, Li acknowledged. "I am convinced that the activities would help improve mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries and further reinforce the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation." Enditem