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Putin Highly Values Schroeder's Moscow Trip
Russian President Vladimir Putin Sunday highly valued German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's visit, saying the two sides have got common points on bilateral economic cooperation and Russia-Europe ties.
"We talked for a long time and in details about relations between Russia and Europe in the near and distant future," Putin said Sunday at Moscow's Vnukovo airport when seeing off Schroeder.
Putin said it was important for him to know how Germany views Russian-German relations and Russian-European relations.
Predicting a further development of those relations, Schroeder said he reached agreement with Putin on the need to turn Europe " into a place of peace."
Both leaders attached great importance to bilateral economic cooperation with the focus on Germany's participation in joint ventures here.
Putin, in particular, said that a number of Russian enterprises are cooperating with the German side in the field of power engineering.
He also cited the Russian gas giant Gazprom as an example, saying the company is addressing some problems involving "millions of dollars" with its German partners.
Russia is currently conducting active negotiations on cooperation with Europe in power matters, Putin added.
Schroeder said power experts from the two countries are currently studying some pilot projects.
As for Russia's debts to Germany, Schroeder said the sides discussed the amount and the time they should be paid. Negotiations on this issue will start as early as this month, he said.
Schroeder and his wife arrived here Saturday for a two-day private visit. Despite its unofficial nature, the visit was generally thought to be an opening for further high-level contacts between Russia and Germany scheduled this year.
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