DRESDEN, October 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russian-German trade may reach a record $40 billion in 2006, the Russian leader said Tuesday.
Vladimir Putin said bilateral trade stood at $20 billion in the first quarter of 2006. Germany, Russia's largest trade partner in Europe, accounted for 10% of Russia's foreign trade, and the United States for only for 4.4%.
"The level of such cooperation is obliging," he said. Putin also said he was happy that Germany welcomed Russian investments.