Over 70 Russian regions are – directly or indirectly – involved in cooperation with Armenia, Russian Minister of Regional Development Viktor Basargin stated at a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

Minister Basargin is in Yerevan to take part in the first Russian-Armenian interregional forum “Russian-Armenian alliance: toward new achievements of interregional cooperation” to be held at the Yerevan sports & concert complex, April 18 to 20.

“Thirty federal subjects have agreements with Armenia or Armenian regions. I think others too will seek agreements and work out medium- and long-term agreements,” Basargin said.

The Russian minister stressed that in preparing for the forum he thoroughly studied all the aspects of Armenian-Russian regional cooperation, the Armenian Government`s press service told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Premier Sargsyan stressed the importance of the forum. “I am glad that our presidents` initiative to consolidate regional ties is being put into practice. We can already see the first results. I am sure that the forum will give a new impetus to this process. We are interested in it and will do our best to consolidate the ties,” Tigran Sargsyan said.

The two nations have common problems, and Armenian-Russian strategic relations give a specific feature to such events, the Premier said.

Regional development is the Armenian government`s priority, Sargsyan said. He briefed the guests on Armenia`s economic policy.

The plenary sitting of the forum is to be held on April 19.

Intergovernmental and interregional agreements, export-import contracts and contracts on establishment of new enterprises are to be signed during the forum.

A Russian-Armenian industrial exhibition will be held on the margins of the forum April 18.