MOSCOW. Oct 24 (Interfax) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will hold talks with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsian who has arrived in Russia for a state visit - the first one in the history of bilateral relations, the Kremlin press service reports.
"Monday will see talks between Medvedev and Sargsian in the course of which they are expected to discuss a wide range of pressing issues in bilateral relations, the prospects of the political dialogue and trade and economic cooperation, and also several topical international agenda items," a report of the press service says.
The talks are expected to result in the signing of a weighty package of intergovernmental and interministerial agreements in such spheres as humanitarian and youth exchanges, health protection, economy and foreign policy coordination, the report says.
Sargsian's visit began on Sunday and will last until Tuesday. His itinerary also implies talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, meetings with the speakers of the Federation Council and State Duma and the Moscow mayor, and a lecture at Moscow State University.
The development of the dialogue on international issues is a priority in Russian-Armenian relations.
"The situation in and around Nagorno Karabakh is a major item of discussion at the talks. As a cochairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Russia is not slackening its mediator efforts aimed at coordinating the key principles of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement," the press service says.
The advancement of interstate relations is largely determined by regular top-level contacts, the Kremlin noted.
Russia is Armenia's key foreign economic partner and foreign investor. In 2010 trade turnover between Russia and Armenia stood at $859.1 million and in the first seven months of this year reached $487.7 million growing 15.2% year-on-year, the Kremlin press service says.
It is estimated that this year the volume of trade will exceed the pre-crisis level ($899. 9 million in 2008). Accrued Russian investment in Armenia since 1991 has topped $2.8 billion (almost 60% of all foreign investment), the report says.