Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin in Moscow on November 24, 2010.

Wen said cooperation between China and Russia at local level is an important part of bilateral strategic partnership of coordination. "Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and I both agreed to tap the huge potential of cooperation between the two nations at local level so as to contribute to the development and rejuvenation of the two countries and bring benefits to both peoples," Wen told Sobyanin. Beijing and Moscow forged sister city relationship in 1995, Wen said, pointing to the good cooperation on trade, education and culture between the two cities. "I hope the two capital cities could tap advantages, enhance exchanges and continue to play a leading role in promoting China-Russia cooperation at local level," Wen said, voicing support for efforts to regulate the two-way trade order. He expressed hope that Moscow could create more favorable conditions for Chinese companies to develop business and carry out lawful operations there, which conforms to the common interest of both sides.

Sobyanin said Moscow is ready to further enhance friendly exchanges and cooperation with Beijing and other Chinese cities and provinces to upgrade bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Moscow is also ready to strengthen cooperation on finance and technological innovations in a bid to make new contributions to promoting China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination.