MOSCOW, June 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Namibia on Thursday as part of a four-nation tour of Africa to discuss developing trade and energy projects.

Medvedev, who is the first Russian leader to visit the country, and his Namibian counterpart, Hifikepunye Pohamba, are expected to discuss cooperation in developing Namibia's mineral deposits, electricity, transport and tourism.

Presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said Namibia is short of energy resources, importing almost all its electricity from South Africa, and is examining which sector to develop - hydropower or nuclear.

"We are ready to cooperate in both spheres, and we will talk about it," the aide said.

Prikhodko said that bilateral turnover in 2008 was $6.35 million, saying "the state of affairs in the sphere is clearly out of line with the available opportunities."

He also said that Russian business circles have lately been showing more interest in entering Namibia's promising market. The country is rich in diamonds, uranium, coal, lead, zinc, copper, tin, manganese, silver, gold, and natural gas.