(Yicai Global) Feb. 12 -- The number of visitor exchanges has hit 3 million each year between China and Russia, with the ranks of Chinese traveling to their vast neighbor to the north rising sharply to become the latter's largest tourist group, Chinanews.com reported today, citing data from the local Chinese embassy.

To better serve Chinese and Russian tourists and above all help tackle problems Chinese citizens encounter at Russia's airports, the Chinese embassy and Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport jointly held two training sessions for airport and airline staff to help them learn more about their southern neighbor. Chinese diplomats introduced their traditional Chinese culture and explained entry and exit policies to airport ground service staff and airline employees, per the report.

Strengthening personal exchanges between the two countries and continuing to make these easier is a key area for cooperation that both governments support, stressed Fan Xianrong, consul general with the Chinese Embassy, who met with airport representatives. He expressed the hope that Russia will continue, as always, to facilitate Chinese citizens' visits to the country.