Chinese automaker Foton Motor on Thursday donated two Euro V hybrid buses worth US$440,000 to Moscow supporting the city's improvement of its urban environment.

"China is undertaking an experiment called '10 cities, 1,000 new energy buses' in which 1,000 new energy buses will replace the older style buses in 10 of China’s largest cities within three years time," said Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov at the donating ceremony.

"Our sister city, Beijing, has achieved this goal two years ahead of schedule. Moscow hopes to follow suit by introducing companies like Foton Motor to the city in order to make our urban traffic more environmentally friendly, improving the lives of our citizens," said Luzhkov.

"Almost 1,000 Foton Motor Euro V hybrid buses are in use for public transportation in Beijing and have produced significant pollution reduction results. The Beijing Municipal Government is proud to be a partner in Moscow’s efforts to shift towards greener urban transportation systems," said Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong.

Wang Jinyu, president of Foton Motor, who claimed green science and technological innovation on new energy as "the soul" of his company, meanwhile voiced the hope that as China's largest new energy vehicle designer, Foton Motor could "introduce its technology and experience in new energy vehicles to Moscow as a contribution to the Russian capital’s goal of reducing urban pollution.”

Foton Motor and the Moscow municipal government also announced the establishment of Foton Motor’s European Auto Department and Foton Motor (Russia) Co., Ltd. at the ceremony, by signing a memorandum of cooperation.

Founded on Aug. 28, 1996, the Beijing-headquartered Foton Motor is Asia's largest and the world's second largest commercial vehicle manufacturer.

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2010)