"I think it's natural both as part of his initial listening/learning tour and familiarization with our members to be visiting," IMF spokesman Thomas Dawson said, "and that's the context in which I would frame the visit, not in the context of any particular problems or any particular issues in that regard."
He also said the Russian economy's performance recently had been strong.
According to the IMF's annual report on the global economy, Russia's GDP will grow 6.6% in 2005.
At the same time, IMF experts warn that Russia's rapid economic growth may lead to a rise in inflation.
In order to avoid this, the IMF recommends that the country's leadership not ease the country's fiscal policy and not spend a large amount of the profits from energy.
The IMF also recommended that Russia apply a stricter monetary policy in sectors with high inflation. The IMF expects that inflation in Russia at the end of 2004 will remain at the rather high level of 10%-11%.
