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Various aspects of Russian-German cooperation were discussed.

Following their talks Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder approved a joint statement on energy cooperation.

The joint statement resulting from Russian-German talks in Berlin notes that it is necessary to coordinate policies in this area, and take steps to provide uninterrupted energy delivery, profitable conditions, and environmentally friendly activities.

The scale of Russian-German joint activities in all components of the energy sector will promote closer integration between Russia's economy and that of her European partners.

The heads of Russian company Gazprom and German companies BASF and E.ON signed an Agreement on Constructing a North-European Pipeline in the presence of Vladimir Putin and Gerhard Schroeder. The head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, Chairman of the Board of BASF AG Jurgen Hambrecht, and head of E.ON AG Wulf Bernotat signed the agreement.

Russian Minister of Public Health and Social Development Mikhail Zurabov, and German Secretary of State of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Security Klaus Schroeder, also signed a Memorandum on Constructing Federal Medical Center of Pediatric Oncology, Haemotology and Immunology in Moscow.

The President of Russia and the Federal Chancellor of Germany made press statements and answered journalists' questions on the results of their talks. Vladimir Putin spoke about the prospects for Russian-German economic cooperation, the problem of pre-term repayment of Russia's external debt, and commented on the political situation in Ukraine.

The President declared that Russia respects gas transit countries' interests, but will protect her own economic interests. By building new pipelines, Russia aspires to avoid political, ecological, and other risks and ultimately, to reduce the price of energy bought by the West.

Speaking to the Paris Club about the premature repayment of Russian debts, Vladimir Putin noted that this would have a positive effect on Germany's economy. The Russian head of state reminded of the fact that Russia's premature repayments of debts to creditor countries of the Paris Club has already resulted in six billion dollars for Germany's budget.

Commenting on the events in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin said not to over dramatise the situation, which he sees as under President Viktor Yushchenko's control.

The President of Russia thanked German doctors for the help they gave free of charge to the children's haematologic centre in Moscow.