Moments in time captured

After their successful collaboration last year, China Daily and Rossiyskaya Gazeta launched another photo album in Moscow on June 14. The new project, One Hundred Photographers Focus on China, turns the lens on modern life in China. The first project, One Hundred Photographers Focus on Russia, offered colorful glimpses into modern life in Russia.

As the latest addition to China Daily's Focus series, the photo book again highlights the talent and creativity of Chinese and Russian photographers. It contains 210 images by more than 130 photographers, including Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

In addition to comprehensively reflecting China's long history, ancient civilization, diverse landscapes, developing economy and the perseverance and creativity of its people, the book also highlights the friendships that exist between China and Russia.

Zhu Ling, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, wrote in the album's preface, "Thanks to photographers from both China and Russia, especially Prime Minister Medvedev, you turn your eyes on profound and sophisticated Chinese culture, on the rapid development of China. ... In short, you zoom in on the positive energy of this old and civilized country."

Dai Bingguo, a former Chinese state councilor, also wrote a preface for the book. He said 2016 marked the Year of China-Russia Media Exchange and that the cooperation project between China Daily and Rossiyskaya Gazeta has "done a good deed" to further mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries. "It will help our friends know China and focus on China," he said.

Alexey Volin, the Russian vice-minister of telecoms and mass communications, said the joint project was a successful experiment that "shows territorial and linguistic barriers cannot become real obstacles for people who expect to see and understand each other".

The Focus series, launched in 2003, has included breaking news events, landmark celebrations of sportsmanship and insights into places such as Taiwan and Macao.

Together with Zhu and Dai, Pavel Negoitsa, general director of Rossiyskaya Gazeta, also wrote a preface for the album.

He said the albums display people with different faces and characters from the two great neighboring nations and that the latest highlights the friendship between the peoples. "This friendship has been handed down by generations from both countries," he said. "We hope that it will continue to be handed down to future generations."

Write stuff: Xuan paper is produced at a factory in Jingxian county, Xuancheng, East China's Anhui province, in October. Xuan paper can be traced back to ancient China and is used for writing and painting. It is renowned for being soft and fine in texture, suitable for conveying the artistic expression behind Chinese calligraphy. Li Ge / For China Daily

Dress up: Actors from Jingyang county dress up before performing in front of villagers in Xianyang, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, in October 2013. Wang Dongsheng / For China Daily

White wedding: Villagers use a sledge to carry a bride home among the snow-covered mountains in Baishan, Northeast China's Jilin province, in 2013. Lian Chenghao / For China Daily

Royal audience: Tourists visit the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, Beijing, on April 23, 2014. Airpano / For China Daily

Sun burst: Rays of sunshine light up Shanghai on July 8, 2015. Alexander Shchadrov / For China Daily

Sense of identity: Women wear traditional costumes of the Miao ethnic group at a village in Guizhou province on June 3, 2007. Alexander Chizhonok / For China Daily

The mist of time: Fishermen sail on a river in Lishui, East China's Zhejiang province, in 2015. Vladimir Proshin / For China Daily

Water colors: Fishermen demontrate a traditional way of fishing with cormorants on the Lijiang River, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, in May 2015. Mikhail Vorob'yev / For China Daily

Smiles all-around: Students in Foshan, Guangdong province, on May 16, 2012. Anna Dovga / For China Daily

(China Daily European Weekly 06/24/2016 page4)