The working governmental group of the Chelyabinsk Region of Russia is considering an offer made by the leading metro constructing Chinese companies Guangzhou Metro and Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. Ltd that want to construct metro in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk.
      
      If the companies become winners of the contest, it will be the first time ever when Russia cooperates with China over building a metro system in the RF. The offer was made in the course of a visit of the Ural officials and businessmen to the Chinese cities Guangzhou and Shanghai.
      
      The People’s Republic of China demonstrates high efficiency of raising the infrastructure of underground transport. Metro exists in 15 cities of the republic and by 2012 the number of cities with metro systems is expected to reach 20.
      
      Both Chinese companies have already sent letters to the Chelyabinsk regional administration with a request to provide detailed information on the technical conditions of work in Russia.
      
      Bids for participation in the contest can be submitted till October 25, 2007. However, it is going to be only one site of metro construction, and it is possible that in the future there will be new contests for some other construction sites.
      
      According to the conditions of the contest documentation, the start maximum contract price 256.8 million RUBS, including value added tax.
      
      Sources: www.ean66.ru www.regnum.ru