"Cooperation in the realm of investment and innovation should become the main factors in the development of our relationship," Viktor Zubkov told his Finnish counterpart, Matti Vanhanen.
He said trade and economic ties had been developing steadily, with bilateral trade growing 250% in 2000 through 2007 and that it was expected to hit 15 billion euros this year.
Zubkov said Russia would like to see greater involvement by Western, in particular Finnish, companies in high technology, including nanotechnology. He also mentioned the timber industry as important.
"Russia has strategic plans for the development of this sector," he said.
Vanhanen said Finland intended to back Russia's admission to the World Trade Organization and the Organization for Economic and Development.
"Finland is closely watching Russia's development, with Russia's interaction with the European Union being one of the top priorities," he said.
He said Finnish investment in the Russian economy had grown considerably, reaching 2 billion euros.
Vanhanen said that although the oil sector remains the principal area of investment, Finnish companies were also interested in the services industry.
