Vladimir Putin said after talks with his Finnish counterpart, Tarja Halonen, that Finland is one of Russia's main partners in the energy sphere.
"We will maintain this [energy] cooperation at an intergovernmental level," he said.
The Russian president said his country meets about 90% of Finland's natural gas demand, that it is increasing its supply of crude and petroleum products to its neighbor, and that the countries are stepping up cooperation in the electric power sector.
Putin highlighted the upward trend in bilateral trade, which he said will increase by 15-17% in 2006.
Commenting on the large lines of trucks at customs terminals along the Russian-Finnish border, the Russian leader said the countries should simplify cross-border cargo traffic procedures.
"Border and customs procedures should be de-bureaucratized," he said.
The president said the Russian and Finish prime-ministers are set to discuss border-related issues later this month.
