ID :
91756
Thu, 11/26/2009 - 15:46
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Putin to pay two-day working visit to France.

MOSCOW, November 26 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin is leaving for a two-day working visit to France on Thursday. He
will attend the 14th session of the Russian-French Commission for
bilateral cooperation together with the French Prime Minister Francois
Fillon.
The government press service reports that the talks will dwell on
cooperation in energy and ways of saving energy, bilateral economic
projects and facilitation of the visa regime.
Putin will arrive in France late on Thursday and will have an informal
dinner with Fillon. On Friday morning he will meet the former French
president and his good friend Jacques Chirac. After that, the Russian
prime minister will head for the Rambouillet Castle near Paris, the venue
of the 14th session of the Russian-French Commission for bilateral
cooperation. Prior to that, the Russian and French premiers will meet
each other face to face.
Iran's nuclear program may also be a subject for discussion.
"It will probably be discussed at an informal meeting because this
issue is being raised everywhere at all levels," said Yuri Ushakov, the
deputy chief of the government staff.
The purchase of Mistral helicopter carriers by Russia may be
another subject for discussion. One such helicopter carrier has moored in
St. Petersburg this week. According to Ushakov, the subject will be
raised, although it's not in the agenda.
"The sum of a possible contract is estimated at 900 million euros.
Russia wants to buy these vessels and launch their production at shipyards
in Russia," Ushakov went on to say.
Prime Minister Putin will also meet the captains of the Russian and
French business. They include Viktor Vekselberg, the owner of the Renova
Company, Vladimir Dmitriyev, the head of the Foreign Economic Bank (VEB),
Alexei Miller, the head of the board of directors of the Russian gas
company Gazprom, Sergei Chemezov, the head of the Rosstechnologiya
Company, Yevgeny Dod, the new chairman of the board of RusHydro, and
Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the head of the board of directors of the AFK
Sistema company.
About 25 various agreements are expected to be signed during Putin's
visit.
French Renault and Russian Avtovaz will sign a memorandum of
intentions on the main conditions of restructuring the Russian car maker.
Gazprom and l'Electricite de France will sign a memorandum of
cooperation, which will most likely concern the implementation of the
South Stream project. The Inter RAO Company will also sign a cooperation
agreement with L'electricite de France.
Besides, an agreement on the labor activity of the citizens of one
country in the territory of the other county and a memorandum of mutual
understanding and exchange of information between the Federal Service for
Financial Markets and the French Agency for Financial Markets will be
signed.
Vladimir Putin will be accompanied by Vice-Premiers Igor Sechin and
Alexander Zhukov, Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina, the
Head of the Russian Transport Ministry Igor Levitin, Culture Minister
Alexander Avdeyev, the Head of the Ministry of Education and Science
Andrei Fursenko and the Minister of Communications Igor Shchegolev.
"Russia is interested in expanding economic cooperation with France,
increasing mutual trade turnover and the amount of investments in the
Russian economy," a Russian government source said.
"New leading French companies are arriving at the Russian market and
investing in long-term joint projects. Large-scale space and aircraft
building projects, including "Soyuz" at Kuru and "Superjet 100", are
implemented according to schedule," the government source went on to say.
Russia has about 470 enterprises with the French capital while
investments are rather diversified in various branches of industry. The
French oil group Total participates in the development of the
Kharyaginskoye oil deposit and the Schtokman gas condensate field; Renault
has a share in the capital of Avtovaz, Pigeout Citroen is building a car
assembly plant in the Kaluga region.
The joint Russian-French venture Alstom-Atomenergomash produces
low-speed turbines for nuclear power stations.
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