Xia Baolong, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee and president of the Chinese side of the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development (CRFCPD), attended the opening ceremony of the China and Russia: Joint Development and Modernization International Symposium on March 29.

Ivan Melnikov, first vice-chairman of the Russian State Duma, and Boris Titov, president of the Russian side of the CRFCPD, attended the opening ceremony via video link. The symposium also marked the CRFCPD's 25th founding anniversary.

Noting that the two countries have made the strategic choice of promoting joint development and common prosperity, Xia said the CRFCPD should continue to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation and provide more assistance for the development and modernization of China and Russia.

In their speeches, Melnikov and Titov stressed that the CRFCPD and the academic community should further strengthen exchanges and cooperation, contribute more ideas, and play a greater role in the common development of the two countries.