Representatives of Russian
government authorities, scientific and educational institutions, public
organizations and the media attended the event. The ambassador of the People's
Republic of China Zhang Hanhui addressed the reception participants and the First
Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Chairman of the Russia-China Friendship
Society Ivan Melnikov
Ivan Ivanovich
addressed the audience as representative of Russia.
He emphasized that it was a great honor for him to speak at the event: “There is no doubt that those people standing behind me and in front of me, there are hundreds and thousands of them who contribute to strengthening cooperation between Russia and China every day,” added Ivan Melnikov.
“Politicians and diplomats, businessmen, scientists and professors, journalists and social activists — without your activity, relations between our countries could not have reached the current level of cooperation! Many millions of people who receive tangible practical benefits from cooperation between Russia and China are truly grateful to you,” emphasized the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma.
According to him, “we can call the past year special, since the new reality after the pandemic and all the changes in the international atmosphere has spurred our cooperation literally in all directions.”
“On the political track, we witnessed the historic visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia. There was emphasized the importance of this first foreign visit after Comrade Xi’s re-election as President of the People’s Republic of China. The joint statement signed by the leaders of the countries highlighted deepening relationship as it enters a new era,” said Ivan Melnikov.
According to the parliamentarian, no less attention was paid to the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing, where he, without exaggeration, was the main guest at the International Forum Belt and Road Initiative: “At these meetings, there were reached important agreements, key agreements were signed and we are all working together on their implementation. Active contacts at the level of leaders of our countries were complemented by meetings at the intergovernmental, inter-parliamentary, ministerial and interparty levels.”
Ivan Melnikov recalled that delegations of the Federation Council headed by its Speaker Valentina Matvienko and the delegation of the State Duma headed by its Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin
Volodin 
Vyacheslav Victorovich The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast) also paid visits to China.
“I witnessed Vyacheslav Viktorovich’s personal meeting with the new Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Comrade Zhao Leji, in November 2023. I can say that they firmly agreed to try to give inter-parliamentary relations the same dynamics that have developed the leaders of the countries, and to focus on providing legislative support to the decisions they made,” he said. “It is encouraging that all the visits took place in a very warm atmosphere. All delegations were received at the Great Hall of the People by Chinese President Xi Jinping and that demonstrated not only the highest level of our relationship, but also a special friendly attitude,” he added.
Ivan Melnikov also noted in his speech the great successes in trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and China.
“Looking back at the past year, I think it would not be an exaggeration to call it truly exemplary in our relationship. Moreover, our countries have an impressive ability to reach new heights and set new records,” said the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma.
“A few weeks ago, decree of the President Vladimir Putin officially started years of cooperation between Russia and China in the field of culture. Culture is a bridge connecting hearts of our nations. Tomorrow many of us will gather at a folk instrumental music concert organized by the Embassy and the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China, and throughout this year we will often meet at various venues to enjoy the best Russian and Chinese works of art. The Russian Ministry of Culture has a big plan of events. And at the end of this week, as part of the first festival-fair “Made in Russia,” a gala concert will take place in Dalian, where Russian ballet dancers from the leading theaters of our country will perform accompanied by the famous Chinese orchestra,” he recalled.
“We should do everything possible so that Russian citizens visiting such events can better understand and feel China, and the people of China can learn more about all the splendor of our country’s culture,” emphasized Ivan Melnikov.
“Unfortunately, these important dates are commemorated in a complex, tense geopolitical situation, when the United States and the collective West consider Russia their main enemy, and China their strategic rival: they are trying to undermine stability in our countries and drive a wedge between us,” said the parliamentarian.
“It is definitely obvious that all these attempts are futile. Russia-China relationship is like a monolith: we are not afraid of any challenges or tests. If we recall the formula of President Vladimir Putin that “Russia needs a prosperous and stable China, and China needs a strong and successful Russia,” then we can say with confidence that no one will be able to undermine Russia-China cooperation, which is successfully developing in the interests of our nations,” concluded the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma.
