State Councilor Wang Yong addressed the opening ceremony of the 6th China-Russia Yangtze and Volga Rivers Youth Forum held on July 16 in Changsha, capital of Central China’s Hunan province.

The forum, celebrating cooperation between the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China and the Volga Federal District in Russia, was also attended by Deputy Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Russian President in Volga Federal District Oleg Mashkovtsev.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, and the final year of the China-Russia local cooperation and exchange initiative, Wang said.

Wang called on the “Yangtze-Volga Rivers” local cooperation council, first regional cooperation mechanism between the two countries, to fully implement the consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on China-Russia ties in the new era, and pragmatic cooperation in various fields between the two sides, adding that the council should play an exemplary role in leading China-Russia local cooperation.

Young people represent the future of China-Russia friendly relations, who should actively carry forward the friendship between the two peoples, promote a better future in bilateral relations and contribute to the development of the two countries, Wang said.

Mashkovtsev read a congratulatory letter from Plenipotentiary Representative of the Russian President in Volga Federal District. He said the youth forum will provide a platform for exchanges between Chinese and Russian young people, help them deepen mutual understanding and strengthen friendships, and help them uphold the future of China-Russia friendship.

On the night of July 15, Wang met with Mashkovtsev. They exchanged views on China-Russia local cooperation and promotion of youth exchanges between the two sides.