Putin hails relation with Germany

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, February 13, 2004

Putin hails relation with Germany

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Feb. 12 that Germany is a major partner of Russia within the European Union (EU), Itar-Tass news agency reported.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Feb. 12 that Germany is a major partner of Russia within the European Union (EU), Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Germany is a major investor in the Russian economy and the bilateral relationship is important within the context of Russia-EU ties, Putin said during his talks with visiting German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer in the Kremlin.

Cooperation between Russia and Germany "develops rather positively" and the level of bilateral trade turnover "remains very high," the Russian leader was quoted as saying.

Fischer pointed out that it is necessary and important to develop "strategic partnership between the European Union and Russia" and any negotiations on existing problems should be held in the spirit of friendship, which has been a tradition in bilateral ties.

Fischer arrived here Thursday after attending the ceremony of unveiling the German Consulate General in Russia's Kaliningrad enclave.

Putin said the opening of the consulate general is "a small, but a concrete step in the boosting of cooperation between our countries."

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said later at a joint press conference with Fischer that Russia and Germany differ on the Chechen issue, the freedom of mass media and several other issues.

He suggested that both nations should discuss the problems and search for solutions that meet common interests.

Source: Xinhua

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