Putin: Russia, EU should forge more trustful partnership

Russia and the European Union (EU) should enhance mutual trust and forge a more transparent strategic partnership, President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday. Putin praised "the good base for further deepening the mutually beneficial relationship" between Moscow and Brussels during a plenary session of a Russia-EU summit in the Russian Urals city of Yekaterinburg. Economic ties have been growing steadily amid tottering global recovery and challenges in 2012, Putin said, citing promising trade and investment figures. Bilateral trade grew 4.1 percent to a record 410 billion U.S. dollars, which accounted for half of Russia's foreign trade, he said. The accumulated investment of EU members in the Russian economy amounted to 276.8 billion dollars, Putin said, adding that the EU remains the largest investor in Russia. In turn, 60 percent of Russian investment abroad took place in Europe. "All this is the clear evidence of close interdependence, so we have to listen to each other, consult each other and work with each other," Putin said. Admitting that various divergences remain between Russia and the EU, especially in the energy sector, Putin called on the two nations to consider their mutual interests and stable business ties and push for proper solutions to existing problems. Meanwhile, he called for close contacts between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Commission. Putin said the Eurasian economic integration was based on the World Trade Organization standards and Russia also adopted Europe's experience.