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Russia’s premier to begin visit to France with working breakfast

Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Paris Monday night to attend a session of the Russian-French intergovernmental commission

PARIS, November 27 (Itar-Tass) – Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who begins the official program of a visit to France Tuesday, is expected to have a working breakfast with representatives of French business quarters.

Medvedev arrived in Paris Monday night to attend a session of the Russian-French intergovernmental commission. As part of the visit, he will have talks with President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Both Prime Ministers will take part in the ceremony of opening an exhibition titled ‘Writers and Intellectuals Between Russia and France: A Journey through the 19th Century Archives’.

“Upon the results of activity of the intergovernmental commission, Medvedev and Ayrault are expected to sign a final document spelling out arrangements in concrete areas of Russian-French partnership,” the government press service said in a press release Monday.

“Also, the two sides plan signing a range of intergovernmental agreements and interdepartmental documents, as well as commercial contracts,” the press release said.

Specifically, the list of documents intended for signing includes a memorandum on training managerial cadres who will work in Russia’s national economy, an agreement on joint financing of research between the Russian Ministry of Education and Science and the French National Research Agency /ANR/, a statement on intentions towards Russian-French cultural cooperation, a memorandum of understanding between the Russian Association of Venture Capitals and the French Association of Investors for Growth /AFIC/, a shareholding agreement between the OAO Russian Railways and PSA Peugeot-Citroen on managing the company Zhefko.

Russian government officials hope the participants in the meeting will have a detailed review of the whole spectrum of issues.

“Focus will be given to collaboration in the spheres of innovations and modernization of the economy, energy sector and, specifically, the nuclear power industry, the aerospace industry and transport, including the creation of up-to-date transport infrastructures, and agriculture,” a government official told Itar-Tass.

France is a key partner for Russia commerce and the industrial sphere. In 2011, bilateral trade reached a record $ 28.1 billion. The accumulated investment of the French companies in Russia’s economy stands at $ 9.1 billion, of which direct investment makes up $ 2.5 billion.

French capitals are involved in more than 470 companies working in various sectors of the Russian market.

The intergovernmental commission is the major agency determining the strategy and guidelines for the development of trade relations between the two countries, as well as cooperation in science, technology, culture, research, and the social sphere.

It was set up at the initiative of Russian and French Presidents in 1996. Its sixteenth session was held in Moscow November 18, 2011.

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