China and Russia will make conscientious efforts to hold the scheduled "Russia Year" in China in 2006 and "China Year" in Russia in 2007, said senior officials of both sides Monday in Beijing.

During the Sixth Session of the China-Russia Cooperation Committee on Education, Culture, Health and Sports co-chaired by State Councilor Chen Zhili and visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, the two sides agreed to further increase cooperation in various fields.

Chen said that China and Russia have increased political mutual trust, and Sino-Russian cooperation has stepped into a new phase.

"The two nations should further promote cooperation with each other to achieve common development with mutual benefits and to make contributions to world peace," said Chen, noting that the committee would play a more vital role in the future in strengthening mutual understanding between the people of the two countries and cementing Sino-Russia relations.

Both Chen and Zhukov voiced satisfaction over the committee's efforts to constantly expand cooperation between the two sides.

Zhukov said the two sides should continue to enhance their efforts in supporting the committee to expand cooperation between Russia and China.

Both sides agreed to make joint efforts to actively prepare for the scheduled "Russia Year" in China in 2006 and "China Year" in Russia in 2007, and try to make these two events an crucial platform for increasing the friendship between the people of the two countries and deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The joint committee was inaugurated on December 5, 2000, with an aim to promote bilateral cooperation in education, culture, public health, sports and tourism.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2005)