VLADIVOSTOK, September 8 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper discussed on Saturday development of bilateral relations, including cooperation in developing the Arctic.
The meeting was organised on the field of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Vladivostok.
“Since 2000, the trade turnover between our countries has grown by eight times, but it is still not big enough. Meanwhile, we have major opportunities, and I think we are not using them fully,” Putin said. “I hope in the framework of the established authorities and the plans offered by our experts, we could be working more effectively.”
Harper, in his turn, congratulated Russia with joining the World Trade Organisation and expressed hope the membership in the organisation would give to the Russian Federation “even more economic opportunities.”
He stressed that the meeting is organised in a jubilee year for the both countries – the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Russia, and the 40th anniversary of the famous hockey games series.
Putin said he knew personally Canada’s some legendary hockey players and called him “ambassadors of the peace.”