An enduring relationship

The cultures of Russia and the Soviet Union have exerted a lifelong fascination on many older Chinese people, as He Na reports.

On Jan 1, The Alexander Red-Flag Song and Dance Troupe of the Russian Armed Forces performed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing as part of a series of events to mark 70 years since the end of World War II.

The audience, middle-aged and gray-haired, joined in enthusiastically on classics such as Katyusha and Night on the Outskirts of Moscow, and wave after wave of applause and cheers echoed around the massive auditorium in scenes that would not have been out of place 50 years ago.