ABU DHABI, December 6. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the unprecedently high level of bilateral relations as he started talks in Abu Dhabi with UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"Thanks to your position, our relations have so far reached an unprecedently high level," Putin said. "We maintain constant communication and our colleagues constantly work with each other," the Russian leader added.

According to Putin, the UAE is Russia’s key trade partner in the Arab countries. Last year, bilateral trade grew by 67.7%, the president said as he expressed hope that this year would see a larger increase still. "A number of major projects in the oil and gas sphere is being implemented, and we also cooperate within OPEC+," Putin said.

Also, Moscow and Abu Dhabi attach due importance to humanitarian ties, the Russian head of state continued as he said that, last year, almost 1 mln Russian tourists visited the UAE and that a Russian-language school opened there.