Speaking at a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, President Vladimir Putin noted that contacts between Russia and Italy are showing positive development.
Trade between the two countries increased by 55 percent over the first half of 2005 and came to a figure of $10.6 billion. Russia and Italy will continue to expand their economic cooperation, in particular in the energy and high-technology sectors.
The talks, which took place at the presidential residence of Bocharov Ruchei in Sochi, also focused on foreign-policy cooperation between Russia and Italy.
Mr Putin and Mr Berlusconi paid particular attention to the issue of actively combating international terrorism.