As a Sinologist, Russian ambassador to China, Andrei Denisov, takes a special interest in Chinese traditional philosophy, history, and theater. Not only has his interest in Peking opera grown over the years, his love for Chinese cinema has also increased.

"When I was a young man, (Peking opera) seemed to me a little bit boring, not very dynamic," Denisov said. "But the older I get, the more I like Peking Opera. Now if I have a chance to see a performance, I try to sit in the front row, just to observe everything."

The ambassador emphasized the popularity of Chinese action movies, cuisine and martial arts with Russian youngsters. "There are some world tournaments and competitions where Russian sportsmen take first prizes, even ahead of Chinese professionals," said the ambassador.