Russian-French trade reaching pre-crisis level - Putin
MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax) - Trade between Russia and France in the first three quarters of 2010 rose by nearly 40% and stood at $16 billion, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
"Trade and economic cooperation and bilateral investment between Russia and France are gradually overcoming the effects of the global crisis. There has been a clear positive dynamic. By the end of the first nine months of 2010 bilateral trade rose by nearly 40% and totaled $16 billion," Putin said at a session of the Russian-French commission for bilateral cooperation at the level of heads of government.
By this indicator, Russia and France are reaching the level of the pre-crisis year of 2008. "Such a trend must be consolidated, first of all, by growing cooperation ties between the key sectors of the national economies," the prime minister said.