A press conference for the Chinese version of the book Russian Painting in the 20th Century was held at Taiyuan Art Museum in Taiyuan, in Shanxi province on Dec 6, according to the organizers, who added that an important exhibition of Russian work also kicked off.

It's the book's first publication in China, marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. 

The Chinese version of the book, published by Shanxi People's Publishing House, aims to promote Chinese readers' understanding of Russian culture and art, and promote the integration of and communication between Chinese and Russian culture. 

It took four translators six years to complete the Chinese version which gives a detailed introduction to the development of Russian painting in the 20th century and comments on more than 1,400 works by more than 700 Russia painters. 

The news conference organizers said it could have a far-reaching influence on the study and understanding of Russian painting art in China.

Hu Yanwei, general manager of Shanxi Publishing Group, said the book is an authoritative academic work and an important guide to understanding Russian oil painting in the 20th century. 

A Russian oil painting exhibition -- sponsored by Shanxi People's Publishing House, Shanxi University, Russia-China New Silk Road Cultural Development Foundation and All-Russian Jinshang Chamber of Commerce -- kicked off in tandem with the book release press conference. 

The exhibition display of around 100 Russian classic oil paintings from each decade of the 20th century, including those by famous Russian artists such as Valentine Sidorov and Konstantin Mefodyevich Maksimov, is attracting many people interested in Russian culture.