Among the matters discussed at the meeting between Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and the WB delegation was moving the budgetary discipline from the federal to regional level and the WB capability to be conducive.
The WB and Russia should abandon the borrower-client practice and turn to partner relations, Mr.Zhang believes.
We as a bank can not only give but also learn a lot from Russia, he said.
The World Bank is ready to give Russia the required assistance in boosting competitiveness and lowering inequality between Russian regions, the WB managing director said. It can be not only financial backing but also other kinds of assistance and services, he stressed.
Towards this end the WB proposes setting up a special fund for crediting entities of the Russian Federation.
"We have discussed our long-term relations, forms of cooperation having to do with above all consultations, carrying out projects on co- and deferred financing terms, as well as setting up a special fund for crediting federation entities", Mr.Kudrin told journalists after the meeting.
To him, the possibility of WB direct access to federation entities without sovereign guarantees was in discussion.
Also, they discussed the agenda of the Washington October meeting between the G8 finance ministers, IMF and WB managers.
"We also considered the initiative of French President Chirac, the imposition of a global anti-poverty tax and some other questions", the Russian finance minister said.
The average-term strategy of cooperation between Russia and the World Bank will be developed by early November, WB director for Russia Mrs.Kristralina Georgiyeva said on Tuesday.
To her, one of the distinguishing features of the document will be the possibility of using more flexible mechanismsof interaction between Russia and the World Bank.
The strategy will be focussed on WB's assistance to regions of Russia, Mrs.Georgiyeva said.
On Wednesday, September 22, the World Bank delegation will visit Tatarstan's capital Kazan.
