The 40 day friendship tour undertaken by Chinese and Russian journalists has come to an end. Filled with memorable moments, the trip presents the ever-growing economic and cultural ties between the two neighbors. Our reporter Xiaoyu shares with you some of the most interesting parts.

Reporter: During their 15 thousand kilometer journey through 19 Russian cities, the feeling that most impressed Chinese reporters was the warmth of the Russian people and their strong willingness to strengthen bilateral ties.

But how do the two neighbors affect each other's everyday lives? Maybe we can find part of the answer in a Market for Chinese Goods in the suburb of Yekaterinburg.

Manager of the market Viktor Testov told reporters that although the commodities at the market are all small and cheap, their profits are surprisingly high.

(act2 in Russian, 2a/soundbites/0906 Russia-3)
“Most things sold here are from China. They are of high-quality and are cheap. And some of them are even exported to other parts of Russia and some European countries.”

The Chinese Market is bustling under the rapid growth of bilateral trade ties in recent years. Currently, Russia is China's eighth largest trade partner, and China Russia's fourth. The trade volume between the two has been hiking for 7 consecutive years and is expected to reach 35 billion US dollars this year and 60-80 billion in 2010.

The world's leading producer of oil, Russia is China's fifth largest source of oil imports with over 8 million tons of crude oil exported to China last year. With such potential, the two sides are eager to make their oil cooperation deeper and more expansive, as an official from Siberia Anatoly Kvashnin says.

(act3 in Russian, 2a/soundbites/0906 Russia-3)
“Siberia boasts abundant natural resources, especially energy. The ongoing construction of the Far-east oil pipeline has significant meaning for China.”

It's expected that Russia will start supplying 30 to 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China yearly from 2011.

Besides the deepening of economic ties, cultural exchanges have never cooled down. In recent years, Chinese education fever is sweeping across Russia, with many universities setting up Chinese departments and Chinese language schools established in many Russian cities.

Students there are eager show us their fluent Chinese.

(act4 in Chinese, 2a/soundbites/0906 Russia-4, mix down)
“A Chinese poem read by a Russian student.”
From Russian's fondness for tea to Chinese interest in Russian arts and music, the friendship tour has discovered everything and presented it before the whole world. Wang Gengnian, Director of China Radio International, also the main sponsor of the unprecedented journey, talked about the fruits out of the trip.

(act5 in Chinese, 2a/soundbites/0906 Russia-5)
“It's estimated that the Chinese media involved in the tour have published over 500 pieces of news and reports as well as over 800 pictures. Chinese people can frequently get in touch with the natural sceneries and cultures of Russia, and get informed about how the two nations are exchanging ideas and cooperating in various fields. China is in the middle of Russia Fever.”

During this year’s "Year of Russia" in China, the two countries have launched dozens of economic and cultural exchanges in different Chinese provinces and cities to boost mutual trust.

Xiaoyu, CRI news.