24 May 2004 17:55
Russia and Finland pleased at extent of economic cooperation, more planned
Moscow, 24 May: Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref will continue to head the Russian-Finnish
intergovernmental commission, head of the Russian Cabinet of Ministers Mikhail Fradkov said today as he opened talks
with Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. He said the Finnish side would be informed of any changes that took place in
the composition of the commission's Russian component as administrative reform was carried out in Russia.
"We would like to make this mechanism highly effective," Fradkov stressed. He was pleased to note
"that the trend towards rising trade between Russia and Finland is being maintained" and that "there are
sufficient conditions" to develop it.
For his part, Finland's prime minister noted that the heads of government of the two countries "will try to
meet two or three times a year to ensure the productive business-like contacts that will strengthen good-neighbourly
relations".
Vanhanen said that trade turnover between Russia and Finland has reached 8bn euros a year. He said the amount of
Finnish investments in Russia "is not great but there are plans for new projects in this area". The Finnish
prime minister noted that a number of factories build with Finnish participation will open in June. Enterprises in St
Petersburg and Arzamas, as well as the Vsevolzhskiy Tyre Factory, plan to start work.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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