US Business People Keen to Develop Partnership with Russian Business Circles

US business people intend to develop close partnership with representatives of Russian business circles, according to Josh McDowell, a leading US public figure and sponsor of the Business and Diplomacy Russian-American business symposium. McDowell made his comments at a press conference in St. Petersburg yesterday. He said that the symposium was an 'attempt to stimulate a permanent exchange of business and cultural ideas between leading Russian and American companies.'

According to Todd Fecht, a participant in the event, 'the fact that US businessmen have come to St. Petersburg will have a positive influence on Russia's image in America.' 'We can see striking changes that have occurred in your country over the last twenty years,' he stressed.

The symposium's organisers hope that the meeting will be 'a good opportunity for US business people to meet with representatives of Russian companies and discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation.' According to McDowell, the prospects for Russian-US cooperation will depend on the next few months of work. 'This is just the start of establishing relations that will later lead to concrete decisions,' he stressed.

The Business and Diplomacy symposium is currently taking place in St. Petersburg. It began yesterday and continues through until April 15. Top managers from leading US and Russian companies will hold a number of meetings during the event. The business symposium is one of the first US projects devoted to St. Petersburg's 300th anniversary. The symposium is being organised by the St. Petersburg Committee for Economic Development, Industry and Commerce, the St. Petersburg Administration's Committee for Foreign Relations, the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Secretariat of the Northern Forum.