Putin, Schroeder meet in Russia's Yekaterinburg

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 09, 2003

Putin, Schroeder meet in Russia's Yekaterinburg

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German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder arrived in Russia's Ural city of Yekaterinburg Wednesday for two days of talks with President Vladimir Putin focused on strengthening economic and political cooperation between their nations.

The leaders have developed friendly ties, eased by the fluent German that Putin polished during his stint as a KGB officer in East Germany in the 1980s. Schroeder described Putin's German as "superb" in an interview with Itar-Tass ahead of the visit.

"Much becomes easier when you can communicate in your mother tongue," he said. "Wish my Russian was as good."

The links between the two leaders grew even stronger this year when, along with French President Jacques Chirac, they led global opposition to the U.S. war in Iraq.

Putin and Schroeder are expected to discuss international crises during the Yekaterinburg consultations, which were starting with a dinner Wednesday but will likely pay special emphasis to the bilateral ties.

Germany is Russia's largest trade partner and creditor, accounting for 11 percent of its foreign trade and about one-third of its foreign debt, according to Russian government statistics.

Source:Agencies

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