Russian Foreign Minister on development of cooperation with Australia in space sphere

Russia is interested in the development of cooperation with Australia in the space sphere, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told Australian Minister Ian Macfarlane in Moscow yesterday.

Moscow considers that the implementation of the existing space projects "will raise bilateral relations on a new level of business partnership" and create a firm basis for the expansion of cooperation between the two countries.

The ministers discussed several bilateral issues and focused on the realisation of Russian-Australian potential in the use of space equipment and technologies. Ivanov and Macfarlane gave a high appraisal to the framework inter-governmental agreement on space, signed in 2001.

The Australian minister confirmed the intention of his government to develop further cooperation with Russia in different spheres, and the search for new trends, meeting mutual interests, the press and information department of the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.