Vladimir Putin Believes It Necessary That Russia And Poland Develop Economic Partnership

Vladimir Putin is positive, Russia and Poland should develop bilateral trade and other economic contacts in the first instance. The Russian president said this in an interview with Polish journalists ahead of his visit to Poland. The presidential press office provided RIA Novosti with the text of the interview Tuesday. "Russia has always had a liking for the Polish people, something which can serve as a basis for building up contacts primarily of an economic nature," said President Putin. As of today, recalled the Russian leader, the bilateral commodity turnover makes up more than $5.5 billion. The president then pointed to a considerable deficit in Poland's trade with Russia. We have to strike a balance, emphasized Mr Putin. When speaking about most promising areas of bilateral cooperation, President Putin singled out infrastructure projects. This is where Poland may well take its historic place linking the East and West, noted the Russian president. Poland can take a good advantage of its location and join energy programmes between Russia and Europe, transport programmes, and raise some branches of the Polish and Russian economy up to a higher level, particularly the agribiz sector and mining and metallurgic industry, according to Vladimir Putin.