Russian-Austrian relations developing, of great significance to Russia; trade has dropped by 25% - Putin
MOSCOW. April 6 (Interfax) - Trade turnover between Russia and Austria has significantly lowered, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"Despite all the difficulties that we have faced as of late, relations between Russia and Austria are developing, and are of great significance to us. We have always attached particular significance to our trade and economic ties. Unfortunately, due to the difficulties that I have mentioned, we have seen our trade turnover go down considerably, by about 25%," Putin said in starting negotiations with Austrian President Heinz Fischer on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, however strange it might seem, Russia's exports to Austria "grew last year, even though not by much," he said.
Russia is one of the major investors in the Austrian economy, and Austrian companies have also invested significant resources in Russia, Putin said.
"We are happy to see you, and I am sure we will have an opportunity to talk about our bilateral relations, about our relations in a multilateral format, bearing in mind our relations with the EU, and about the key hot spots of the present time," Putin said.