Launch of "Classics Quoted by Xi Jinping" milestone in deepening Russia-China cultural exchanges: Russian officials

Russian officials and media leaders have lauded the launch of "The Classic Quotes by Xi Jinping," a multilingual television show produced by the China Media Group (CMG), saying it serves as another milestone in the deepening of Russia-China cultural exchange and media cooperation.

The launch event of the international version of "The Classic Quotes by Xi Jinping" was held in Moscow on Wednesday, as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow for a state visit to the country and to attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

The event was attended by more than 200 guests from China and Russia's political, economic and cultural sectors.

Shen Haixiong, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of China Media Group, Oleg Dobrodeev, CEO of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) and Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova were among the attendees.

Noting that it was the fourth time the program was launched in Russia, Shen said this latest edition not only uses time-honored anecdotes to bring Xi's outstanding governance philosophy and profound humanistic sentiments vividly to international viewers but also introduces entirely new content on ecological protection, talent development and family values and education.

Dobrodeev said the past seasons of the Russian version of "The Classic Quotes by Xi Jinping" have achieved strong viewership ratings and elicited enthusiastic responses across Russian society.

He said the launch of this international edition will help Russian viewers gain a deeper appreciation of China's rich cultural heritage and experience the essence of Chinese civilization's wisdom.

Lyubimova said the program underscores Xi's profound reflections on cultural inheritance and mutual learning among civilizations and will serve as yet another milestone in the deepening of Russia-China cultural exchange and media cooperation, injecting fresh media-driven momentum into the enduring friendship between the two countries.

In a video address to the event, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui noted that a series of China-Russia cultural initiatives were launched at a cultural exchange event on Wednesday. He believes these initiatives will further deepen the Russian people's understanding of traditional Chinese culture and contemporary China and foster closer ties and enduring friendship between the two nations.

The program is now airing across multiple Russian platforms, including VGTRK, Russian Gazette newspaper, and Gazprom Media.

"The Classics Quoted by Xi Jinping" features Chinese proverbs and ancient texts cited by President Xi in his speeches and writings. They focus on innovation, cultural inheritance and mutual learning among civilizations.

Launch of "Classics Quoted by Xi Jinping" milestone in deepening Russia-China cultural exchanges: Russian officials

U.S. stocks finished slightly higher on Monday, staging a late-session recovery as investors navigated a volatile landscape marked by a criminal probe into the Federal Reserve leadership.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 86.13 points, or 0.17 percent, to 49,590.2. The S&P 500 added 10.99 points, or 0.16 percent, to 6,977.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 62.56 points, or 0.26 percent, to 23,733.9. Despite the positive close, the market experienced significant intraday turbulence, with the Dow dropping nearly 500 points at its session lows.

Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in positive territory. Consumer staples and industrials led the gainers, rising 1.42 percent and 0.75 percent, respectively. Financials and energy were the primary laggards, declining 0.8 percent and 0.66 percent.

Market sentiment was initially shaken by an announcement on Sunday from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who confirmed that federal prosecutors are investigating him over the Fed's multi-billion-dollar project to renovate its headquarters. Powell characterized the probe as an attempt by the Trump administration to compromise the Fed's independence.

Further weighing on the financial sector was a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to cap credit card interest rates at 10 percent for one year, which triggered a sell-off in banking stocks amid concerns over restricted lending and reduced profitability. Capital One shares plummeted 6.42 percent, while Citigroup, JPMorgan and Bank of America also recorded losses.

In contrast, retail giant Walmart led the Dow's advance, climbing 3 percent following news of its upcoming inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index. The company also announced a strategic partnership with Google's Gemini AI to enhance the digital shopping experience.

Investors are awaiting Tuesday's release of the U.S. consumer price index for December 2025. Following last week's cooling labor market data, market participants increasingly expect the Fed to maintain interest rates at their current levels during the upcoming January meeting.

U.S. stocks close higher amid criminal probe into Fed chair Powell