Ｆｏｒｕｍ ｏｎ Ｅｘｃｈａｎｇｅｓ ａｎｄ Ｃｏｏｐｅｒａｔｉｏｎ Ｂｅｔｗｅｅｎ Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ ａｎｄ Ｒｕｓｓｉａｎ Ｃｉｔｉｅｓ Ｈｅｌｄ ｉｎ Ｂｅｉｊｉｎｇ

To promote more extensive， in-depth and sustained exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese and Russian local governments， on November 8， 2008 the CPAFFC held the Forum on Exchanges and Cooperation between Chinese and Russian Cities， the only bilateral activity within the framework of the China International Friendship Cities Conference.

The Forum was jointly presided over by He Jifeng， director-general of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of the CPAFFC， and Sergey Paramonov， executive vice president of Russian Twin Cities International Association. CPAFFC President Chen Haosu and Vice President Li Jianping were present at the forum. Over 70 people including a part of the delegates who attended the China International Friendship Cities Conference and delegates from 15 Russian cities participated in the forum.

At the forum Chinese and Russian delegates spoke one after another and had in-depth and extensive discussions and exchanges on the achievements， present situation and prospects of friendly contacts and cooperation between the Chinese and Russian localities. Both sides unanimously held that nongovernmental and city diplomacy plays an indispensible role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the people of various countries in the world and promoting cooperation in the fields of economy， trade， science， technology， culture， tourism， etc.

In his speech at the forum， CPAFFC President Chen Haosu said， the Chinese side attaches great importance to the exchanges between Chinese and Russian localities， and friendship cities between the two countries have a great potential for further development. Through holding this kind ofdialogues， the cooperation between Chinese and Russian localities will continue to develop， and the number of China-Russia friendship cities will further increase. Chen also spoke highly of the great significance of the activities soon to be held in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia as well as the Year of Russian Language and the Year of Chinese Language.

Sergey Paramonov， head of the Russian delegation， extended his congratulations on the successful convening of the China International Friendship Cities Conference and thanks to the Chinese side for specially arranging this activity. He believed that the Friendship Cities Conference and this Forum would become important platforms and effective channel for the two sides to help supply each other’s needs， exchange experiences and promote future development and cooperation.

The delegate of Shanghai briefed about the cooperation and exchanges featured with political mutual trust， economic mutual benefits and cultural interaction between Shanghai and St. Petersburg since the two cities twinned as the first pair of friendship cities between China and Russia in 1988. He also gave a detailed briefing about the Pearl of the Baltic Sea， a large-scale project in Russia being constructed by Shanghai and the preparation for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

The delegate of Shandong Province briefed about the high-level contacts between Shandong and the local governments of Russia. He hoped that Shandong and the Republic of Tatarstan， Russia will formally sign the agreement of forming friendship city ties during the Tatarian President’s coming visit to Shandong at the end of November.

Sosnovy Bor Mayor Dmitry Pulyevskiy and Yaroslavl Mayor Victor Volonchunas respectively talked about their cities’ exchanges with friendship cities in other countries. Mr. Volonchunas said， Yaroslav will hold activities in celebration of the millennium of the founding of the city in 2010 and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev himself is in charge of the celebration preparation committee. He said， his city hopes to hold an exhibition at the Shanghai World Expo to publicize the city’s history and features to the Chinese people and forge friendship ties with Chinese cities.

The Russian delegates hoped that the two sides would actively conduct exchanges of personnel and carry out substantial exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy， trade， science， technology and nuclear energy as well as in the social and cultural aspects.