Shantsev told Russian journalists on Thursday that with the help of the "Moscow-Beijing" commission on economic cooperation "we are going to create a field for business cooperation between partners from Russia and China.
"Today, subjects of entrepreneurship, small and medium-sized businesses are mostly cooperating, and our task is to create conditions for their interaction," the vice-mayor pointed out.
The first session of the commission, which is headed by the Moscow vice-mayor from the Russian side and by the vice-mayor of Beijing from the Chinese side, will be held in 2004 in Moscow, with the time-limits of its convocation to be determined in the working order. The commission will focus on the realisation of specific projects in the trade, economic, scientific and technical fields, on the development of the urban infrastructure, trade, utilities services, transport, town building and education.
Shantsev also pointed out that the agreement on cooperation between the two capitals was signed in 1995 and since then four two-year programmes of cooperation were implemented. The new programme stipulates the creation of trade centres in the two capitals, and holding meetings of businessmen and joint ventures.
"The ties between the two capitals, is a correct direction but the possibilities of other regions, provinces and territories should also be used," the Moscow vice-mayor said. In addition, he added, the Moscow delegation is going to thoroughly study the investment activity of China.
