Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov jointed attended the closing ceremony of the "Year of China" in Russia, which was held in the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on the evening of November 6, 2007.

When the closing ceremony started at 19:20 local time, Wen and Zubkov walked into the grand hall in the applause of over 5,000 guests and then delivered speeches respectively.

In his address, Zubkov extended warm congratulations upon the success of the Year of China on behalf of the Russian government. The "Year of Russia" held by China and the "Year of China" held by Russia featured rich contents, diversified forms, and broad and direct participation by the public. Such events made outstanding contributions to the development of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and composed a new chapter of friendly cooperation between China and Russia in terms of enhancing mutual understanding and friendship and promoting bilateral exchange and cooperation between China and Russia, said Zubkov.

Russia-China strategic partnership of coordination, which was established on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, served the interest of the people and promoted the peace, development and prosperity of the world. Russia wishes to work together with China to consolidate the strategic coordination and turn Russia-China relationship into an example of friendly and good-neighbourly relations in the spirit as shown in the events, according to Zubkov.

Wen said in his address that the Year of China and the Year of Russia events were important measures taken by the two countries with the goal of enhancing the long-term friendship between the people and upgrading the level of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination. Such events were unprecedented. In two years' time, China and Russia held a total of more than 500 activities, which enhanced mutual political trust, spurred pragmatic cooperation and created a glorious page in the history of bilateral relations with productive results.

China and Russia are each other's largest neighbours and strategic partners of coordination sharing weal and woe. It is the common aspiration and the best choice of the people and the two countries to unswervingly promote such partnership and deepen the neighbourly and mutually beneficial cooperation. Though the events concluded, the spirit of "developing long-lasting friendship and moving forward hand in hand" advocated by the events will be passed on from generation to generation. The new model of cooperation created thereafter will be an important asset to China-Russia relations. Amicability brings bliss, civilization creates harmony, cooperation boosts development. Let the Chinese and Russia people join hands together to create a bright future for good-neighbourly and friendly relationship between China and Russia on the basis sincerity, mutual trust, solidarity and collaboration, said Wen.

Following the addresses, Premier Wen, on behalf of President Hu Jintao, presented the Medal of China-Russia Friendly Cooperation to Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister and Aleksandr Zhukov, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and the Medal of Outstanding Contributions to Yury Luzhkov, Mayor of Moscow.

The prime ministers and the guests watched the amazing performance by China National Symphony Orchestra and Chinese artists.

Vice Premier Wu Yi was also present at abovementioned activities.

The heads of state of China and Russia decided to launch the "Year of Russia" in 2006 and the "Year of China" in 2007 so as to upgrade China-Russia strategic relationship of coordination in an all-round manner. President Hu Jintao and President Vladimir Putin attended the opening ceremony of the "Year of China" in Moscow on March 26, 2007.