Russia should continue its efforts to turn Moscow into a global financial center, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.

"We should continue our efforts to lay the legal foundations for an international financial center in Russia," Medvedev said.

Medvedev said in mid-2008 that turning Moscow into a financial world center and the ruble into a leading regional reserve currency was central to building a competitive financial system in Russia.

Early last year the Russian leader said the ambitious task should not be abandoned, despite the global financial crisis.

Russian lawmakers are due to adopt a whole series of related legislative amendments to assist the creation of the center.

GORKI, February 9 (RIA Novosti)