Russian Ambassador to China Sergey Razov told a press conference on Tuesday that relations between his country and China have seen comprehensive and substantive progress this year.

"High-level mutual visits between the two sides have enhanced personal friendships, mutual trust and understanding between the top leaders of the two countries," said Razov.

He said the start of talks on strategic security offer both countries a channel to address issues concerning world and regional security.

Cooperation has been developing rapidly in the areas of economics and trade, Razov said, and bilateral trade volume is expected to total US$29 billion by the end of this year, up by 33 percent on 2004.

Referring to talks in Vladivostok in June 40 years of border negotiations were completed and ratified, Razov said it was a historic achievement and that field demarcation work is scheduled to be finished in the next two to three years.

Razov said Russia and China have further strengthened coordination on international and regional topics, such as UN reform, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Russia Year in China scheduled for 2006 and the China Year in Russia for 2007 were declared in a joint statement during President Vladimir Putin's visit last year.

Razov said Russia has offered China a report on the detailed arrangements of the upcoming Russia Year, including more than 250 programs, such as a cultural festival, an exhibition and a ceremony marking the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

"The large-scale cultural exchanges between Russia and China will be conducive for the people of both countries to increase mutual understanding and would make an important contribution to the further growth of Russia-China relations," he said.

Putin will visit China in March next year. He and President Hu Jintao will attend the opening ceremony of the Russia Year in China and hold talks on bilateral relations. Putin will also attend the SCO Summit in Shanghai next June.

"I hope that Russia-China relations will continue enjoying stable development, in a bid to benefit the people of both countries," Razov said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2005)