After the talks the presidents took part in the opening ceremony of the Vneshtorgbank's office in Kiev.
In the presence of the two leaders, chairman of the managing board of Ukraine's National Bank Vladimir Stelmakh granted a license authorizing banking transactions in the republic to the CEO of Vneshtorgbank (Ukraine).
Inter-bank cooperation develops and enhances economic relations between countries, the head of Ukraine's National Bank said.
Vneshtorgbank's President Andrei Kostin recounted the Vneshtorgbank's (Ukraine) history to Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yushchenko. He pointed out that the bank intends to expand its presence in the CIS and open its offices in Moldova, Azerbaijan and other CIS states.
He added that at the beginning of the next year the new Ukrainian bank's network is to be expanded and new offices will appear throughout Ukraine.
Asked by President Putin whether the bank already had clients in Ukraine Kostin answered in the affirmative. He said that the clients appeared during the operation of the bank's office, and there are Russian companies working in Ukraine and Ukrainian companies among them.
The presidents observed the bank's depository and wished the bank were a success on the Ukrainian market.
The Russian president stressed the importance of Russian-Ukrainian inter-parliamentary cooperation on vital decisions.
"Cooperation between our parliaments is significant from the viewpoint of the atmosphere of bilateral relations and for important decision-making," President Putin stated while meeting with Speaker of Ukraine's Supreme Rada Vladimir Litvin.
All the decisions that have been taken so far lay the groundwork for further relations between the states, the Russian president noted.
Vladimir Litvin said, in his turn, that "there will be no problems as to the ratification of documents at the presidential and governmental levels between Russia and Ukraine".
The Russian president also thanked the speaker for the contribution he made into the development of bilateral relations in the past years. "I hope our interaction will be progressive in the future," Putin was quoted as saying.
Vladimir Litvin noted that the Ukrainian parliament would approve documents, which the country's government will introduce. "We have perfect relations with the government," he said.
The official emphasized that Russia and Ukraine have the largest inter-parliamentary "friendship group", which includes 129 MPs. The group will convene in Russia in May, he was cited as saying.
