President Hosni Mubarak arrived in Moscow Wednesday for a three-day official visit to meet with his counterpart Vladimir Putin and top Russian officials.
The spokesman said trade between the two countries grew 52%, year-on-year, in the first eight months of 2006, to $953.3 million. Egypt's Industry and Trade Ministry said bilateral trade could reach $3 billion a year in the near future, with Russian investment increasing more than five-fold, to $250 million from the current $45 million.
Egyptian Ambassador in Moscow Ezzat Saad said Wednesday cooperation in the energy sector is also high on the agenda.
Mubarak's visit to Russia is expected to consider Russia's proposal to construct a civilian nuclear infrastructure in Egypt, following the resumption of talks on the issue in late January.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov said Mubarak will also discuss the current critical situation in the Middle East, including in the Palestinian territories, Iraq, Lebanon and Sudan.
"Egypt is a key country in the region, and it is our major partner in the Middle East," he said. "It is very interesting for us to hear the opinion of such an authoritative politician as Hosni Mubarak."
