BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged congratulatory messages on New Year's eve on Sunday, and announced the start of "the Year of China" in Russia.

    In his message, Hu said China-Russia relations maintained the good momentum for vigorous development in the past year, marked by frequent exchanges of high-level visits and the effective functioning of various consultation and cooperation mechanisms between the two neighbors.

    The principles set forth in the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation have been further implemented, and the two countries, taking advantage of the "Year of Russia" in China, have striven to promote pragmatic all-round cooperation in politics, trade and economy, science and technology and other areas, as well as their strategic cooperation in international and regional affairs, Hu said.

    All these efforts helped bring bilateral relations to a new height, he said.

    In 2007, China and Russia will hold a series of important meetings and events, including "the Year of China" in Russia, according to Hu.

    Hu said he is convinced that the activities of "the Year of China" in Russia will be a complete success and will contribute to deepening the traditional friendship between the two peoples and strengthening bilateral ties.

    In the new year, Hu said, China is ready to continue to work together with Russia to further promote mutual political trust and deepen pragmatic cooperation between them in various fields, so as to push forward the development of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership and make new contributions to lasting peace and prosperity in the region and the rest of the world.

    In his congratulatory message, Putin said eye-catching achievements have been made in the past year in mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in politics, economy, culture and other fields. Bilateral cooperation in international affairs has also been greatly expanded, he said.

    "The Year of Russia" in China is of great importance to promoting all-round contacts and exchanges between the two countries and has indeed become a festival symbolizing the friendship between the two peoples, Putin said.

    The "the Year of China" in Russia also has aroused enormous interest among the Russian people, Putin said, noting that the event will help the Russians know more about China's long history, the cultural tradition of the friendly Chinese people and life in modern China.

    "The Year of China" in Russia will undoubtedly help further cement Russia-China relations and give a strong impetus to efforts to fully tap the potential of the strategic partnership between Russia and China, said Putin.