Putin, Fillon to talk business at Franco-Russian conference

Nov 27, 2009, 9:12 GMT

Paris - Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart, Francois Fillon, sat down for talks Friday at Rambouillet, some 50 kilometres south-west of Paris, that will be centred on deepening business ties between the two countries.

The occasion for the talks is the 14th session of the French- Russian commission for bilateral cooperation, during which a number of ministers from both sides will meet and numerous agreements are expected to be signed.

The Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported Thursday that, according to Russian Ambassador to France Alexander Orlov, the possible purchase by Russia of French Mistral helicopter carriers will not be on the agenda.

The announced sale has rung alarm bells in former Soviet-member nations such as Georgia, because of fears that the warship could be used to further Russian interests in the region.

However, the two men may have discussed the controversial deal during a meeting late Thursday, after Putin arrived in Paris.

French car maker Renault and Russian company Avtovaz are expected to sign a memorandum of intentions on the conditions of restructuring the Russian auto producer Renault currently holds a 25 per cent share of Avtovaz.

In addition, the head of Russian energy supplier Gazprom, Alexei Miller, has said that his company and the French utility EDF would sign an agreement on EDF's joining the South Stream gas pipeline project currently underway and which is expected to increase and secure gas deliveries to Europe.

The South Stream gas pipeline is intended to transport Russian natural gas to Italy and Austria and is scheduled to be completed by the year 2015.

In addition, bilateral agreements are also expected to be signed in the areas of culture, the environment and visas to ease professional immigration.