In May, a month marked by multiple revolutionary commemorations, and in the golden autumn of September, the Chinese President and his Russian counterpart exchanged visits, fully demonstrating the special and high-level relationship between the two countries and charting the future course for China-Russia ties. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Beijing and Moscow. Taking this milestone as an opportunity, the two cities have jointly hosted a series of friendly exchange activities. In October, Alexey Shaposhnikov, Chairman of the Moscow City Duma, led a delegation to Beijing, further advancing legislative exchanges between the two cities and fostering new momentum in sister-city cooperation.

Practical Exchanges Support the Steady and Long-Term Development of Greater BRICS Cooperation

BRICS countries are standing at the forefront of the Global South. This year, building on their established roles, the legislative bodies of Beijing and Moscow continued to deepen sub-national cooperation under the BRICS framework. The Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress was the first to join the Parliamentary Movement of BRICS Capitals, launched by the Moscow City Duma. On October 29, at the BRICS Capitals Parliamentary Cooperation and Investment Promotion Sub-Forum hosted by the Moscow City Duma, Li Xiuling, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, delivered a video address, highlighting the Standing Committee’s commitment to engage in multi-level and multi-channel exchanges with the parliaments of BRICS capitals. Such exchanges and cooperation among capitals and their legislative bodies will further contribute to the steady and long-term development of the greater BRICS cooperation.

Renewed Agreement Marks a New Chapter in Legislative Exchanges

Legislative cooperation is an integral part of the sister-city relationship between Beijing and Moscow. During the visit to Beijing, the Moscow City Duma delegation renewed the cooperation agreement with the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress. Both sides will further deepen legislative exchanges and cooperation, sharing experiences and learning from each other in this field. Alexey Shaposhnikov, Chairman of the Moscow City Duma, said that Moscow is willing to further strengthen high-level interactions with Beijing, leverage the leading role of the two capitals in China-Russia sub-national exchanges, and steer the sister-city relationship into a new 30-year chapter through practical cooperation between legislative bodies.

Connecting Innovation Resources to Empower Emerging Industries

During the visit to Beijing, the Moscow City Duma delegation toured the Exhibition Center of the Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone and the Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone. The delegation gained an in-depth understanding of the city’s emerging industries and innovation achievements, and took a test ride an autonomous driving minibus. Members of the delegation spoke highly of Beijing’s scientific and technological progress, describing the city’s development as staggering. They expressed the hope that, as the capitals of their respective countries, Moscow and Beijing would share more innovation resources and practical experience to jointly support high-quality development.

The Moscow City Duma delegation explores the AR immersive panoramic simulation system at the Exhibition Center of the Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone

The Moscow City Duma delegation experiences an autonomous driving minibus in the Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone