MOSCOW, January 15 (RIA Novosti) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's first working visit to Moscow, to begin on January 16, will bolster the development of strategic partnership between Russia and Germany, a high-placed source in the Kremlin said Saturday.
During the negotiations, the parties are expected to draw up a schedule for Russian-German political contacts in 2006 and other bilateral and multilateral events, including the G8 summit in St. Petersburg in July 2006, the source said.
Russia and Germany hold close or similar positions on most topical international issues, including closer cooperation within the United Nations, the Russia-NATO Council, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the G8, the source said.
Russia and Germany view the project of building the North-European Gas Pipeline (NEGP) as contributing to efforts to create a unified energy space in Europe and ensuring reliable energy supplies to the continent, the source said. According to the source, Angela Merkel will discuss the issues of energy cooperation and the NEGP construction during her visit to Moscow.
Trade, economic and energy issues are among the joint priorities of the two countries, the source said. In 2005, bilateral trade expanded by 30% and is estimated to have hit a record high of $32 billion in 2005.
The German chancellor will also discuss bilateral cooperation in education, science and innovations, including encouraging youth exchanges, the source said.
