Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in France on Monday for an official visit to kick off a year of cultural exchanges between the two countries, as well as for talks with top officials.

Later on Monday, Medvedev will meet with his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, for talks on a range of international and bilateral issues.

On Tuesday, the Russian president is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, and the heads of the French Senate and National Assembly, Gerard Larcher and Philippe Seguin.

The visit by Medvedev and his wife, Svetlana, will mark the official start of the Year of Russia in France and France in Russia and includes a dinner on Tuesday hosted by Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni.

The formal discussions will focus on bilateral economic, military and humanitarian cooperation and Russia's WTO entry bid. There are no plans to conclude the long-mooted deal for a Mistral-class amphibious-assault ship.

Other items on the agenda include the overcoming of the global economic crisis, a new European security treaty, the situation in Afghanistan and the Iranian nuclear program.

Russia's first couple will return home on Wednesday.

PARIS, March 1 (RIA Novosti)