Gu Xiulian, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), met in Beijing on Wednesday with a delegation of Russian women, led by Svetlana Orlova, vice chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council.

Gu, who also chairs the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), spoke highly of the effective cooperation between Chinese and Russian women organizations.

The program of China-Russia Women's Culture Week has become one of the main activities celebrating the Year of Russia in China last year and the Year of China in Russia in 2007, said Gu, calling for future extension of the program and more local cooperation between women of the two countries.

Orlova said women from Russia and China could further discuss issues of common concern and contribute to the Russia-China friendship.

The delegation consists of 15 famous female politicians and female social luminaries. They are here for a goodwill visit from October 10 to 15 at the invitation of ACWF.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2007)