"With Aeroflot joining SkyTeam, it increases not only its own competitiveness in the world but Russia's as well," Sergei Lavrov said at a ceremony to mark the Russian airline joining the global airline alliance.
He said closer contacts between Russian businessmen and their foreign partners would make it easier to implement current policy.
"Today's event is an example of Russia strengthening its role in the world and its influence on the formation and expansion of international alliances in the globalized world," Lavrov said.
Other Skyteam members are Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines. The airlines operated 15,207 daily flights to 684 destinations in 133 countries last year.
