HARBIN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia will encourage local cooperation and exchange during 2018 and 2019, the years of China-Russia local cooperation and exchange.

The opening ceremony for the cooperation was held in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Wednesday.

China and Russia will strengthen local cooperation in fields including trade, technology and exploitation of natural resources, said Zhang Qingwei, chairman of the Chinese side of the local cooperation council of China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development.

The years of local cooperation were conceived by leaders of the two sides. Exchanges in technology, capital and talent are expected to increase, Zhang said.

Bilateral trade between China and Russia in 2017 increased to 84 billion U.S. dollars, up 20.8 percent.

The Russian side will actively participate in exchanges between regions, sister cities, investors and civil organizations, said Sergey Paltov, Russian consul-general in Shenyang.