On Tuesday, Oct. 4, Russia
On Tuesday, Oct. 4, Russia?s President Vladimir Putin met with representatives of British business circles to discuss further improvement and development of Russian-British economic ties. The Russian president was in London for a Russia-EU summit and a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Opening the meeting Blair said that economic relations between Russia and Great Britain were developing steadily and successfully. Considering Russia?s stable economic growth, economic cooperation between the two countries has a very promising outlook, the British PM also said.
Vladimir Putin addressed the businessmen by saying that he had already met with many of them and promised state support of their efforts to increase business cooperation with Russia. He noted that last year trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $9 billion, and that there are numerous opportunities for further growth of this figure.
Nine British businessmen were invited to take part in the meeting. Among them were the heads of British Petroleum, Shell Oil Company, Cadbury Schweppes, Pilkington Glass, GlaxoSmithKline Inc, Kingsfisher, Scottish & Newcastle, Rexam, Barclay?s Capital and the president of the Confederation of British Industry.
A number of British officials, including Prime Minister Tony Blair, the trade and industry minister, the head of trade and investments agency and others, were also present at the meeting. From the Russian side the meeting was attended by the chairmen of state-owned Vnesheconombank and Vneshtorgbank, president of the state transportation monopoly Russian Railways, Economy Minister German Gref and Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko and several others.
