The selection for the Top 10 Influential Russian Literary Works in China and The Top 10 Influential Chinese Literary Works in Russia was launched in Beijing on Sunday.

The program was initiated by Chinese newspaper Guangming Daily and Russian News Agency TASS, aiming at promoting cultural exchange between the two countries.

"Literature is a window to the spirit of one nation, and it's a bridge of mutual understanding in international exchange," said Du Feijin, the editor-in-chief of Guangming Daily.

In the coming months, a jury of both Chinese and Russian scholars will choose a series of works by writers and poets of the two countries, and the public could vote for their favorite works on the websites of Guangming Daily and TASS.

The result of the selection will be revealed in Moscow by the end of this year.

"I believe that this program will attract the attention of young people, journalists, writers and literary critics of both countries, and will contribute to their cooperation," said Sergei Mikhailov, the director general of TASS.

A group of about 80 officials and scholars witnessed the launch ceremony, including Chinese Vice-Minister of Education Liu Limin, renowned Chinese-Russian translator Liu Wenfei, and Li Mingbing, a professor of Russian literature at Peking University.

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