Russian President Dimitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted progress towards a new partnership agreement between Russia and the European Union when they met in Berlin Thursday.
"The European perspective is very important to Russia. The EU is out most important trading partner," Medvedev told a press conference after meeting Merkel, reported dpa.
Both leaders said a significant step forward to a new agreement had been made. Poland, which had a dispute with Russia over meat imports, and Lithuania, which wants better relations between Russia and its smaller neighbours, recently lifted their block on talks.
Talks on a new partnership deal begin in earnest at the EU-Russia summit to be held in Khanty-Mansiisk in Siberia at the end of this month.
Medvedev stressed the need for more investment. "Nothing brings people closer than doing business together," he said.
Some 4,500 German companies have a presence in Russia.