Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui (C) and Russian Ambassador to China Sergei Razov (R) attend a news conference in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 25, 2006. China and Russia will hold a closing ceremony of the Year of Russia in China on the evening of Nov. 9, according to the news conference.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia will hold a closing ceremony for the Year of Russia in China in Beijing on the evening of Nov. 9, a senior Chinese diplomat said Wednesday.

    The closing ceremony will be held during the 11th meeting of the Chinese premier and Russian prime minister from Nov. 9 to 10.

    Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui and Russian Ambassador to China Sergei Razov co-chaired a news conference briefing on the closing activities of the "Year of Russia" here on Wednesday.

    Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov will attend the closing ceremony and deliver speeches, Li said.

    Following the ceremony, the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra from Russia will entertain the audience, Li added.

    According to Li, a series of activities including the National Exhibition on Russia and the Sino-Russian Investment Promotion Week will also be held during the prime minister's visit.

    The National Exhibition on Russia will take place in the Beijing International Trade Center from Nov. 8 to 13. There will be over 500 booths covering an area of 10,900 square meters, displaying cutting-edge products and technologies from hi-tech industries with over 1,500 Russian participants.

    "This is an exhibition at the highest level covering the broadest fields and attended by the largest number of Russian people in recent years," Li noted.

    The Sino-Russian Investment Promotion Week will start on Nov. 9and will feature 13 promotion activities aimed at boosting bilateral investment.

    In 2004 and 2005, two investment promotion sessions were held with 19 project agreements or letters of intent signed.

    Li said the two sides will determine a new array of investment cooperation projects this time.

Russian Ambassador to China Sergei Razov speaks at a news conference in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 25, 2006.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    A joint communique will be released during the 11th regular meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries and the two sides will sign sweeping documents on bilateral cooperation, Li said.

    The two countries will sum up the outcome of the "Year of Russia", and outline activities for the coming "Year of China", Li added.

    Razov said the Russian government has provided 12.5 million U.S. dollars for funding the activities of the "Year of Russia", and over 400 Russian delegations have visited China, holding more than 20 promotion seminars in China this year.

    Trade volume between the two countries reached 24.64 billion U.S. dollars in the first 9 months this year, up 18.8 percent year-on-year.

    Li said trade volume in 2006 could hit 36 billion U.S. dollars, a new record.

    More than 200 activities were held during the "Year of Russia". Li said these activities have promoted mutual understanding and friendship.

    "I believe these activities will further strengthen the traditional friendship between our two countries and push forward the China-Russia strategic partnership," Razov said.