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Official website of the President of Russia

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Russian-Finnish talks

July 21, 2010, Naantali

Dmitry Medvedev and President of Finland Tarja Halonen discussed a new European security architecture, developing the EU-Russia strategic partnership, including progress towards visa-free travel and the Partnership for Modernisation initiative, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and a number of regional issues.

The two leaders examined cooperation within international and regional forums in the Baltic region, northern Europe in general, and in the Arctic.

Bilateral cooperation priorities were also on the agenda. Finland is one of Russia’s most important business partners. Trade between the two countries has increased more than five-fold, and total direct Finnish investment in the Russian economy has increased eight-fold over the last decade. Although 2009 saw bilateral trade drop to $13.1 billion, from $22.4 billion in 2008, Russia remained Finland’s biggest trade partner. Trade between the two countries has picked up again, posting an increase of more than 20 percent — $5 billion – for the first quarter of 2010. Innovation and high technology are among the two countries’ economic cooperation priorities.

Mr Medvedev and Ms Halonen gave a joint news conference following the talks.

Before the talks began, Ms Halonen introduced the new Finnish prime minister, Mari Kiviniemi, to Mr Medvedev.

July 21, 2010, Naantali