U.S. agrees to play bigger role in Russian economy modernization - Lavrov
BARVIKHA, Moscow region. March 19 (Interfax) - Moscow and Washington have agreed to bolster cooperation to help diversify the Russian economy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"We have reached an agreement to step up cooperation between Russia and the U.S. to modernize the Russian economy and to help it embark on the path of innovation," Lavrov said after a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday.
"There are concrete ideas that will help us achieve this goal as effectively as possible," he said.
The Russian and U.S. governments should continue expanding cooperation that was launched by the two countries' presidents, Clinton said.
The work of the bilateral commission, which is chaired by Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama, has already produced positive results, she said.
Representatives of U.S. high-tech companies visited Russia recently to meet with local businessmen and scientists, Clinton said.
A delegation of young Russian athletes is expected to travel to the U.S. this spring, she said.