Transportation Minister of Russia Maksim Sokolov, who is Russian co-chair of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, spoke after Friday’s 17th meeting of this commission, which was convened in St. Petersburg, Russia.

“Our work is carried out exclusively openly, befitting of true friends, colleagues,” Sokolov said, in particular. “The ties are very close and truly working.

“Trade between Russia and Armenia increased by 10 percent this year, reaching 450 million [US] dollars. The export of Armenian goods to Russia has increased by several times, crossing the 125-million-dollar threshold. And it is apparent that (…) Russia has been and remains the main trading partner of Armenia.

“The agenda of our meeting today included a wide range of issues.”