STRELNA (near St. Petersburg), July 17 (RIA Novosti)-Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed that his country and Norway unite efforts in developing the Barents Sea deposits.

The Barents Sea has substantial mineral resources, including major oil fields, but the status of the Arctic shelf remains to be settled.

Putin said Norwegian companies worked thoroughly and had a developed infrastructural network in the area, though oil production was falling.

The president said a natural solution for both sides was "to unite efforts without wasting [time] on the creation of additional infrastructure."