Putin visits Mexico

Russian President Vladimir Putin flew to Mexico on Monday for talks with his Mexican counterpart, who has said he hoped to increase military cooperation with Moscow.

The Putin visit was the first by a Russian head of state since the countries established diplomatic relations in 1891, said Agustin Gutierrez, a spokesman for President Vicente Fox.

Also on the agenda were law-enforcement and financial issues, Mexican officials said.

Fox said last week Mexico hoped it would begin assembling some Russian helicopters and importing a mixed civilian-military factory.

Fox and Putin were expected to sign minor agreements on transferring prisoners, the elimination of double taxes on rent, foreign investment and cultural exchanges.

On military matters, Fox has said possible projects include the installation of a large maintenance center for helicopters as the first step in a plan to assemble the Russian aircraft in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz.

The Mexican president said he also hoped to sign an agreement with Putin for a plant that would assemble heavy machinery for the military industry, saying such a factory would be constructed in Ciudad Sahagun, 50 miles northeast of Mexico City.

Mexico largely spurned Russian military equipment during the Cold War, but has begun to adopt some Russian armaments, which are less expensive than those sold by the United States or most European suppliers.

Mexico's Air Force and Navy operate at least 56 Russian-made transport helicopters, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Source: Agencies