5 Jul 2010 16:15

Russian-Ukrainian inter-regional forums will become regular - Putin

MOSCOW. July 5 (Interfax) - Russian-Ukrainian inter-regional economic forums will be called regularly to give new quality to bilateral relations, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.

"Such forums will become regular, which will help impart a new dimension to bilateral relations," Putin told the government presidium.

"A favorable business environment must be created and an infrastructure must be put in place in the interests of thousands of small and medium companies and for supporting private business initiatives and Russian and Ukrainian regions," he said.

Cross-border cooperation accounts for about 20% of Russian-Ukrainian trade, he said.