China, Russia celebrate 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties

A Russian performer performs during the evening gala to celebrate the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations between China and Russia at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, October 13, 2009. Russia was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with China, days after the People's Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949. The evening gala also marked the end of a half-year-long program, "Year of Russian Language" in China. During the "Year of Russian Language" in China, the two nations held more than 200 cultural exchange activities in about 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China.[Xinhua]