WASHINGTON, D.C., June 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's investment in the U.S. economy has grown dramatically in recent years, and is now almost at the same level as American investment in Russia, a senior Russian lawmaker said Thursday.
Konstantin Kosachev, head of the international relations committee in parliament's lower house, said bilateral trade grew to $15.3 billion in 2006, more than 40% up on the previous year, and that the United States is now Russia's sixth largest trading partner.
Kosachev was speaking at a joint Capitol Hill session of his committee and the House Committee of Foreign Affairs, led by Democrat Tom Lantos.
According to the U.S. Commerce Department, American exports to Russia have in the past three years been growing at an annual rate of more than 20%, to reach $4.7 billion in 2006. Direct investment is estimated at $11 billion.
