New Zealand premier invites Putin to discuss free trade agreement
RUSSKY ISLAND. Sept 10 (Interfax) - Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand, who is expected to pay a visit to Russia in 2013, has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss prospects for concluding a free trade agreement.
While Putin and Key met on the sidelines of an APEC summit on Saturday, Putin thanked Key for assistance and support in preparing the forum.
"Your visit to Moscow is to follow. You know about our invitation, and I would like to reaffirm it," Putin said.
Key congratulated Russia on joining the World Trade Organization and the completion of a new campus for a future Far Eastern Federal University.
He said he expected to discuss steps toward concluding a free trade agreement. He added that he was looking forward to visiting Moscow in 2013.
Putin's aide Yury Ushakov told journalists earlier that "completion of negotiations on concluding a free trade agreement between the Customs Union member-states and New Zealand remains a priority."
"This is a pilot project for Russia. Significant progress has been achieved on the project following nine rounds of consultations, the latest taking place in Moscow on June 27-July 19," Ushakov said.