Delegations from Russia are given flowers at the Russian film festival in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

A nine-day Russian film festival organized by the governments of China and Russia opened in Beijing on Monday amid efforts to boost cultural exchanges.

The event, the brainchild of China's State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television as well as Russia's culture ministry, will bring 10 films including "Mother," "Christmas Tree" and "The Stone" to Chinese audiences.

At the opening ceremony of the festival, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong pointed to China and Russia ramping up imports of films from each side, and cooperating in production. This will enhance the common prosperity and development of the two nations' cultures and deepen their strategic cooperative partnership, she said.

The festival, running between May 27 and June 4, will also be held in Shanghai. An eight-member delegation of the Russian film industry will visit China for a week as part of the activity.