BOCHAROV RUCHEI, May 27 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas in Sochi on Monday to discuss bilateral ties.
“First, I would like to say that we refer to the Czech Republic as our traditional partner and pay great attention to this cooperation,” Putin said at the meeting with the Czech premier.
The Russian president said trade between Russia and the Czech Republic last year had almost reached the level before the financial crisis. Necas said the bilateral trade grew 6 percent in 2012.
Earlier on Monday, the Czech premier discussed Russia’s oil and gas supplies to the Czech Republic with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. At talks, the sides focused on the plans of Czech businesses to invest in Russia.
Necas arrived in Russia on a four-day working visit on Sunday. The delegation also includes Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Kuba and a group of businessmen and entrepreneurs.