BOCHAROV RUCHEI, near Sochi, Russia. Feb 10 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope that trade between Russia and Kyrgyzstan will keep growing.
"Yesterday we had a chance to have a brief conversation, and not only about the event that has made our meeting possible - by the way, I'm grateful to you for coming here, for finding time to attend the Olympics, - but also about regional problems, about bilateral relations," Putin said at a meeting with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev on Saturday.
"Russia remains the main trading and economic partner of Kyrgyzstan, and, moreover, the volume of trade is increasing, it has grown nearly 18%. There trends must be sustained. I'm glad to have a chance to have detailed discussions on all aspects of our interaction," Putin said.
Atambayev praised Friday's opening ceremony for the Sochi Winter Olympics. "I want to congratulate you on yesterday's opening of the Olympics. It was a fantastic sight," he told Putin. "It is an event that has left me with an indelible impression forever."