"Education is a vital bridge connecting people and fostering lasting friendship," Chinese President Xi Jinping said while attending the opening ceremony of the China-Russia Years of Education with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. 

Taking the China-Russia Years of Education as an opportunity, the two sides should further build consensus on cooperation, expand areas of cooperation and enhance the level of cooperation, Xi said.

Xi called for deepening cooperation in talent cultivation and jointly tackling challenges in frontier science to facilitate the two countries' innovation drive and development.