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Jan. 1, 2009: The Years of the Chinese and Russian Languages (2009-10) are officially launched. The arrangement is that 2009 is Year of Russian Language in China and 2010 will be the Year of Chinese Language in Russia. Jan. 14, 2009: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) holds a deputy foreign ministerial meeting in Moscow to discuss Afghanistan. Jan. 20, 2009: The third Russian-Chinese financial dialogue opens in Beijing. Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and Chinese counterpart Xie Xuren and the Chairman of the People’s Bank of China Zhou Xiaochuan discuss steps to strengthening bilateral cooperation, the world financial crisis, and prospects for expanding the use of national currencies in trade operations. Jan. 28, 2009: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov states that Moscow is ready to consider the possibility of a pastoral visit by the Dalai Lama to Russia. Feb. 12, 2009: Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin hold an “in depth” exchange of views over the phone on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, such as financial crisis, cooperation in trade, energy, science, technology, and activities for the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Feb. 14, 2009: Chinese cargo ship New Star is shelled by Russian Coast Guard vessels and sunk in seas near Nakhodka. Feb. 17, 2009: China and Russia sign seven energy cooperation agreements including the construction of a 67-km oil pipeline, a long-term crude oil deal (15 million tons of oil each year for 20 years), and a $25-billion financing for Russian oil and pipeline companies. China-Russia Relations 135 April 2009 China-Russia Relations 136 April 2009 Feb. 22, 2009: President Dmitry Medvedev sends a telegram to President Hu Jintao extending condolences to the families of the miners, who perished in north China’s Shanxi Province coalmine blast, and sending wishes of recovery to the injured. Feb. 26, 2009: State Councilor Meng Jianzhu, Chairman of the National Narcotics Control Commission and Minister of Public Security, meets Director Ivanov of the Federal Russian Narcotics Control Administration in Shanghai. Meng calls for stronger Sino-Russian cooperation in drug-trafficking crackdown. Feb. 26, 2009: Chinese and Russian border defense forces hold the first joint border blockading and controlling military exercise between China’s Heihe City and Russia’s Blagoveschensk City. March 10, 2009: Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov and Yang Jiechi call on relevant states to exercise restraint and composure, and for all countries concerned to refrain from steps that could undermine stability on the Korean Peninsula. March 18, 2009: Secretary General Bolat Nurgaliyev of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) says the SCO is open to cooperation with NATO. March 21-22, 2009: The Chinese International Strategic Society and the Society on Russian Foreign Affairs and National Defense Policy hold a two-day symposium in Moscow on global economic and political development, Central Asia, the Middle East, the SCO, and the global March 23-28, 2009: Russian and Chinese militaries hold the first round of consultations on holding a joint antiterrorism exercise due in July-August. March 25-28, 2009: Vice Premier Alexander Zhukov visits China to co-chair with State Councilor Liu Yandong a ceremony of opening the “Year of the Russian Language” in China. March 27, 2009: The 14th session of the Council of the SCO’s Regional Antiterrorist Structure (RATS) meet in Tashkent and approve a draft program of cooperation in the fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism in 2010-2012. March 27, 2009: Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, meets Dmitry Mezentsev, deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council. March 27, 2009: SCO member states hold a conference on Afghanistan in Moscow and issue a joint statement and an action plan to deal with terrorism and drug trafficking in Afghanistan.