Dear President Vladimir Putin,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to visit our great neighbor Russia again in this beautiful season and attend together with President Putin the Opening Ceremony of the "Year of China". I would like to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Government and people, our warm congratulations and best wishes to the friendly Russian Government and people.

Russia is a great country. The Russians are a great people. In their long course of development, the industrious, persevering and talented Russian people created a brilliant and time-honored culture and showed an unyielding spirit, by which they made important contribution to the progress of world civilization and human progress. In recent years, under the leadership of President Putin, Russia has enjoyed political stability and fast economic growth and its people a happy life. Russia has played an important role in international and regional affairs, winning high respect from the international community. As a friendly neighbor and strategic partner of Russia, the Chinese Government and people are sincerely pleased to see its success, and wish the Russian people prosperity and greater achievements in all aspects of national development.

China and Russia are linked by common mountains and rivers and the friendship between our peoples has a long history. Since the establishment of the strategic partnership of coordination, our bilateral ties have grown vigorously, as shown by the many important achievements we have made. To be good neighbors, good friends and good partners forever is the sincere wish of the Chinese and Russian peoples and the natural call of our national interests. To enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and two peoples and ensure the long-term, sound and stable growth of our strategic partnership of coordination, President Putin and I decided to hold the "Year of Russia" in China and the "Year of China" in Russia. The "Year of Russia" in China was successfully held in 2006, during which over 300 colorful activities took place. The wide range of these activities, the extensive participation of both peoples and the warm repercussions have made the "Year of Russia" an unprecedented event in the annals of China-Russia relations and boosted the all-round and in-depth growth of bilateral ties.

This year, we are holding the "Year of China" in Russia and will organize nearly 200 activities of all kinds, covering the political, economic, scientific, technological, cultural and social areas. We hope that these activities will display to the Russian people China's history and culture and its progress in reform and opening-up, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and two peoples, deepen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in all fields and promote exchange of visits to make peace and enduring friendship a firm conviction of the two peoples and inject new vitality into the long-term, sound and stable growth of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination.

We are ready to work with Russia to build on the success of the "Year of Russia" in China and the "Year of China" in Russia to fully implement the Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation and deepen our mutually beneficial cooperation and strategic coordination so as to promote common progress and prosperity of China and Russia and jointly contribute to the building of a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

May the friendship between our two countries and two peoples last forever.

Thank you!