Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Francois Fillon had an informal dinner on Wednesday evening in a Moscow restaurant, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Putin and Fillon will discuss cooperation in energy and advanced technology at talks in the Russian capital on Thursday, a Russian government statement said earlier.
A range of intergovernmental and commercial documents are expected to be signed after the meeting.
Trade turnover between Russia and France grew by 37.4% in the first nine months of 2010, year-on-year, to $15.9 billion.
Speaking to the Rossiiskaya Gazeta government daily, Fillon said missile defense and Russia-EU relations would also be discussed during his visit.
MOSCOW, December 9 (RIA Novosti)
