MOSCOW, Sept. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Amid sounds of the Moscow anthem and countless bright balloons, the Russian capital celebrated its 858th anniversary on Sunday.

    Over 3,000 festive events were held during the City Day celebrations, attended by Russian Premier Mikhail Fradkov and many other high-ranking officials, the ITAR-TASS news agency reported.

    "The government of the Russian Federation will do its utmost to back Moscow's efforts and, in turn, hopes for understanding by Moscow of tasks Russia put forth before itself," Fradkov said at the opening ceremony.

    Moscow has a strong economy and could double its gross regional product by 2010, said Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.

    Luzhkov noted that the Moscow government would solve their housing problem, and "by 2007, the minimum wage in the city will be higher than the (current) living wage."

    History's first mention of Moscow dates from 1147 when it was an obscure town in a small province mostly inhabited by Merya, speakers of a now extinct Finnic language.

    Today, Moscow gathers nearly one tenth of the Russian population in its urban area, making it one of Europe's most populous cities. Enditem