MOSCOW - China and Russia pledged to strengthen cooperation in the fields of culture, education and environment so as to enhance mutual political trust, according to a Sino-Russian joint statement issued on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao open the Chinese Year in Russia at a ceremony in Moscow March 26, 2007. [Reuters]

The cooperation in the area of humanity between the two nations is vital to cementing the social foundation of their strategic partnership of cooperation, said the statement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, who arrived in Moscow Monday for a state visit.

Therefore, the two nations will strive to tighten ties on education, culture, health, tourism, sports, mass media and archives management, and to encourage extensive participation of people from all walks of life.

The Sino-Russian cooperation in environmental protection has made remarkable and satisfactory progress, according to the statement.

Under the mechanism of regular meetings between the premiers of China and Russia, sub-committees on environmental protection have been established and working groups of water quality surveillance for trans-boundary rivers have also been set up, it said.

Pollution prevention and treatment, bio-diversity and water quality surveillance for trans-boundary waters are the priorities of the two nations in their environmental cooperation.

Cooperation in immigration is also progressing steadily. The two countries will continue their efforts in combat against illegal immigrants and will take effective measures to promote the people-to-people contacts between the two sides, added the statement.