China urged Russia Thursday to protect its businessmen's interests in Russia.

"We have urged the Russians to protect Chinese businessmen's interests in Russia and we also reminded all the Chinese entrepreneurs there to abide by the local laws and regulations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a routine press conference in Beijing.

Qin's remarks came following a reporter's question about the recent raid at the Cherkizovsky Market, in the east of Moscow, the Russian capital.

During the operation, according to a report from local media, Russia's Federal Migration Service picked up 150 Chinese.

Qin said China had not received any official notification about the operation, and Chinese embassy in Russia was instructed to investigate.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2009)