President Putin was warmly welcomed by French President Jacques Chirac at the Elysee Palace.
The two leaders had an hour-long one-on-one meeting and continued their conversation at lunch.
Mr Putin and Mr Chirac discussed a number of bilateral issues and current important international problems. They covered the implementation of the agreements reached during the Russia-EU summit in Rome, the current developments in the Middle East, including Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Consultations between the two countries’ Ministers took place at the same time. In the wake of the meetings, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin adopted a joint statement which declared their intention to work together on establishing visa-free travel between the EU and Russia in the near future. To achieve this goal, the two officials agreed to sign an agreement on simplifying the entry, travel and departure requirements for Russian and French citizens.
They also signed an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in their space programmes, including the joint launches of Russian Soyuz booster rockets from Kourou, French Guiana. The first launch of a Russian booster can be expected as early as 2006.
After the talks, the two leaders rode to the Orly Airport together. Before departing, President Putin talked to journalists. The good-bye ceremony took place afterwards; a guard of honour was arranged on the airfield, and the two countries’ tricolour flags were raised. A military orchestra played the two national anthems. Mr Chirac personally walked Mr Putin to the aircraft as a sign of respect for the Russian President.