Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui Wednesday exchanged views with the executive director of the Russkiy Mir Foundation Vyacheslav Nikonov on strengthening language and cultural cooperation.

Li said cultural exchanges play an increasingly important role in enhancing the traditional friendship between Chinese and Russian peoples and consolidating the social foundation for their bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation.

The "Year of the Russian Language" was successfully held in China last year, and the "Year of the Chinese Language" has recently been launched in Russia, Li said, adding that the activities will profoundly benefit their language and culture cooperation.

More than 200 events, ranging from Russian language and cultural weeks, seminars on Russian language teaching, to Russian song singing competitions, were staged across China during the Russian language year in 2009. Similar activities have also been arranged for the Chinese language year.

The Russian language and culture centers established by the Russkiy Mir Foundation in several Chinese universities have made a great contribution to promoting Sino-Russian cultural exchanges, Li said.

The Chinese side will continue providing support for the foundation and facilitating its Russian language teaching in China, he added.

Nikonov hailed the reciprocal language years and thanked the Chinese side for relevant assistance. He said the foundation will continue its efforts in expanding Russia-China bilateral cooperation.

The Russkiy Mir Foundation, established in June 2007 under a decree signed by the president during that time, Vladimir Putin, aims to promote Russian language teaching programs abroad.