ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, June 25 -- Chinese and Russian media inked nine deals on strengthening exchanges and cooperation at the China-Russia Media Forum that kicked off here Thursday.

Among the deals, China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television signed a translation program for classics and contemporary works of both countries with Russia's Federal Agency for Press and Mass Media.

China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration agreed with the Tass news agency to jointly publish picture albums in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of World War II.

Also inked at the forum was a cooperation memorandum between China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Corp. and the National Library of Russia.

Representatives from China and Russia are here at the forum to discuss media's role in promoting the integration of China's Silk Road Economic Belt initiative with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union framework, and in boosting new-media exchange and cooperation between the two countries.