MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev hailed the success of a "China-Russia friendship" journey in a recent congratulatory message, saying the venture by journalists from both countries had contributed to stronger bonds and deeper understanding of each other.

Congratulating Chinese and Russian journalists on wrapping up the road trip in his message dated September 5, Medvedev praised the project for being fruitful, large-scale and unique. It was an important part of the Year for Russia and China, he said.

Forty Chinese and Russian journalists returned to Beijing on September 6 after a 16,000-km road trip to discover the bonds between the two nations.

Riding in 13 off-road vehicles, the journalists had filed about500 stories and 800 photos on the road on the theme of "China-Russia friendship" since their departure from Beijing on July 25.

Medvedev said the trip had broadened the outlook of every journalist involved in the "China-Russia friendship" journey.

He spoke highly of the Chinese journalists, who in his words, were professional, had a good command of the Russian language and were filled with warm feelings toward Russia.

They had objectively covered events in Russia and written extensively about Russian-Chinese cooperation, he said.

Medvedev expressed his thanks to all the participants in the project for their huge contributions towards furthering the mutual understanding and traditional friendship between Russia and China. Enditem