CHISINAU, December 11 (RIA Novosti) - Moldova will seek to develop cooperation with Russia and ask the Russian authorities to provide it with a loan, the Moldovan vice premier said ahead of his visit to Moscow on Friday.

Valery Lazer, who is also the Moldovan economy minister, will visit the Russian capital for a CIS Economic Council's regular meeting.

"Russia is Moldova's main strategic ally. Our country is highly interested in the closest cooperation with Russia," Lazer told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

He said such cooperation would help the two countries to overcome the consequences of the global economic crisis.

Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat has set Moldova's integration into the European Union and overcoming the economic crisis in Europe's poorest nation as the government's top priorities.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin agreed in June to provide Moldova with the $500 million loan for investment programs requested by the country's former communist president Vladimir Voronin. Negotiations on the issue are underway.

Valery Lazer said he would ask Russia to provide Moldova with the first $150-million tranche as soon as possible, adding the country "sorely needs" it.

"But we need not just the loan, we need a partnership with Russia," he said.