Participants in the St. Petersburg Dialogue, a Russian-German forum, on Wednesday discussed Germany's possible role in the modernization of Russia's economy.
The forum's economic section went under the motto "Modernization - Privatization - Small and Medium Sized Business."
Klaus Mangold, chairman of the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, said not one of some 6,000 German firms operating in Russia had pulled out of the Russian market during the financial crisis.
He said German exports to Russia were expected to grow 30% while Russian exports were already up 20% this year.
"We believe that the Russian-German partnership is highly positive," he said.
Other participants said the Russian economy should be more open to foreign investment.
YEKATERINBURG, July 14 (RIA Novosti)
