Russia sees both France, Germany as its strategic partners - Putin
PARIS. June 2 (Interfax) - France and Germany are Russia's strategic partners, and it is incorrect to ask to which of these countries Moscow gives priority, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"We have very longstanding and partner-like relations with both France and Germany. Our countries' history has known different times, but it is absolutely obvious that both Germany and France are our strategic partners, and we really value relations with both France and Germany," Putin said at a press conference following talks with French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Friday.
"It stands to reason that I have arrived in Paris from Berlin," he said.
Putin described as "incorrect and provocative" a question by a Russian journalist who asked him whether Russia gives priority to France or Germany.
Addressing economic cooperation with these two countries, Putin said the volumes of trade with them differ significantly.
"Our trade turnover with France is $28 billion and with Germany $72 billion. Feel the difference?" Putin said.
"We, the Russian business, have invested nearly $6 billion in Germany, while Germany has invested about $29 billion in our country. We invested $5.6 billion in the German economy last year alone, and $140 million in France. Here is the answer," he said.
"The level of economic cooperation between the two countries [Russia and France] obviously does not match their potential," Putin said. "We have very good prospects, and Mr. President and I have talked about this a lot. The good aspect of Russian-French economic cooperation is its orientation toward developing contacts in the real sector of the economy," he said.
Russia and France are cooperating in the nuclear power industry, and they have agreed to jointly manufacture products for the nuclear power engineering industry and even setting up a joint venture, he said.
"We also cooperate in the electric power and hydrocarbons industries, French firms work on our territory, and we are willing to work together in third countries. We cooperate in the aircraft building industry, with the Frenchmen are taking part in the building of two of our good planes, a medium-range and a short-range one. As for space exploration, we have 14 launches from [French] Guiana planned for the next 15 years," Putin said. "This is a huge amount of work," he added.
Asked about his first impression from negotiations with the new French leader, Putin replied, "I am sure we will develop very good and businesslike relations. Anyway, I felt very comfortable discussing these problems with the president even when we touched upon quite sensitive subjects."