The heads of the Russian and Ukrainian governments have agreed to intensify negotiations on the transportation of Russia's gas to Ukraine, the ITAR-TASS news agency said on Friday.

"We have agreed to give orders to respective structures to intensify the talks on deliveries and transit of Russia's gas to Ukraine," Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov told a press conference here after meeting with his new Ukrainian counterpart Sergei Yekhanurov on Friday.

Yekhanurov said that at present, with the help of experts, the two sides are moving toward a concrete decision on the gas issue within the framework of an economic committee at the level of the heads of governments.

Fradkov meanwhile expressed the hope that the agreements to set up a commission at the level of presidents will be signed soon.

Fradkov also stressed that he saw no reason to doubt the success of the Common Economic Space (CES) within the Commonwealth of Independent States. "In the experience of the whole world, the promising prospects of such international associations (as the CES) are apparent," he said.

Ukraine's new Prime Minister Yekhanurov was on his first trip abroad after taking office last Thursday, a sign that he is intent on reassuring the Kremlin that the new government wants good ties with its giant neighbor.

Ukraine currently buys Russian gas at a heavily discounted rate of 50 US dollar for 1,000 cubic meters, but media reports have suggested Moscow was considering doubling the cost. Ukraine has warned it would retaliate by raising transit fees.

Source: Xinhua