The working visit of the Russian president to Ukraine will focus on the prospects of bilateral trade and economic relations, a Kremlin source reported.
"Trade and economic co-operation between the two countries has recently been on the rise. Russia's trade with Ukraine accounted for nearly $6 billion in January-May 2004 marking a 40% increase," the source said. "The talks will also highlight the formation of the common economic space of the four countries (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan) and the preparation of the relevant agreements," the source continued.
"As before, the agenda of the Yalta meeting will include Russian-Ukrainian co-operation in the fuel and energy sector, including oil transportation and the activity of the international consortium for the development and management of Ukraine's gas and transport system," noted the Kremlin source.
"An important component of the two countries' co-operation is interaction in the airspace sphere. This topic will also feature in the discussion of the prospects of large projects in this sphere. Moreover, under discussion will be the establishment of the closest possible co-operation in the Azov and Kerch water area," the source said.
"Another important event of the visit will be the two leaders' meeting with businessmen of Russia and Ukraine," the source noted.
"After such forums were held in Moscow in late 2000 and in Kharkov in December 2001, contacts between business circles with the participation of the two presidents have developed into a good tradition, and make it possible to maintain stable feedback between businessmen, politicians and executives," the Kremlin source stressed.
