Russian President: Economic interaction to be focus of meeting with Bush

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that his September meeting with US President George Bush should focus on economic interaction between Russia and the USA.

When meeting chairman of the board of the American International Group Maurice Greenberg on Monday, the Russian leader said, "George and I often discuss economic problems".

"I believe this /September/ meeting should also focus on discussing these issues, economic development and cooperation," the President disclosed.

The Russian leader hopes that "the US business circles will contribute to creating a favourable climate for developing economic cooperation between our countries".

Maurice Greenberg is well known in Moscow not only from the words of Yevgeny Primakov, chairman of the Russian Trade and Industry Chamber, who also attended the meeting, but also by the corporation's work in the country, Vladimir Putin pointed out.

"Your plans to sign documents aiming at developing mortgage in cooperation with the State Building Committee are of primary importance," he added.

According to the President, he knows that the AIG has been very active on the American market and has a large experience in the mortgage sphere. This experience was taken into account when preparing corresponding Russian documents, Putin pointed out. "Now the practical participation of your company is very important," he emphasized.

At the same time, other regions in Russia are no less interesting, the President believes. "Here, in Russia, one can find what to do," he said.

The American International Group is the US largest insurance and financial corporation, one of the world's ten largest financial and banking institutions.

The companies comprising the group have been working in Russia for several years, providing a broad range of insurance, investment and financial services.