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At the invitation of the CPAFFC, Eleonora Mitrofanova, chairperson of the Russian Centre of International Scientific and Cultural Cooperation (RCISCC), paid a visit to Beijing, Sanya of Hainan Province and Shanghai from March 21 to 30.

The RCISCC has set up its representative offices in 60 countries, including 43 Russian Scientific and Cultural Centres. The RCISCC and its overseas agencies dedicate to publicizing Rus- sias current situation and reform, its history and cultural heritage. It coordinates and cooperates with the central and local authorities, the Federal Assembly as well as various scientific, cultural and social organizations. It is CPAFFC important long-term cooperative partner in Russia. Every two years the two sides sign a cooperation plan stipulating the concrete cooperation projects including holding regular forums aiming at promotingeconomic, trade, scientific, cultural, educational and regional cooperation between China and Russia, sending professional delegations to each others country and carrying out commemorative activities.

Zhang Meiying, chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, met with the delegation. On March 22, CPAFFC President Chen Haosu and RCISCC Chairperson Eleonora Mitrofanova signed the 2008- 2009 plan of cooperation between the two organizations. Chen Haosu mentioned, the year 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia and the founding of the China-Russia Friendship Association. The two sides designated 2009 as the year of Russian language in China and 2010 the year of Chinese language in Russia.

Wang Chengan, vice mayor of Sanya, met with Eleonora Mitrofanova and her party. The two sides held that to run a Russian training course in Sanya to raise the local tour guides language level would help attract more Russian tourists. In the city the Russian guests visited Sanya College of Hainan University.