Chinese Premier Li Keqiang emphasized on Tuesday that cultural and people-to-people exchanges play a critical role in enhancing understanding and friendship between the people of China and Russia.

Li made the comment at a press briefing after holding a heads of government meeting with the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in the Great Hall of the People.

"We will focus on holding exchange activities between the youth of the two countries over the next two years," said Li.

Li said the two sides agreed to open up the future of the China-Russia friendship on the basis of achievements made in the past.

Medvedev said cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have become increasingly diversified, adding that the two sides have jointly held such activities as China-Russia country year, language year and tourism year in the past. The two sides will hold activities of youth exchange year over the next two years.

"Russia seems to never have held so many colorful cultural activities with any other foreign partner", he said.

"I strongly believe that various activities of the youth exchange year will be very successful," Medvedev said.