OREANDA-NEWS. February 16, 2011. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov paid an official visit to London as a guest of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 14-15 February 2011. He was received by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron to whom he conveyed a personal message of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev regarding the issues of Russian-British relations. In particular, the message confirmed the invitation to the head of the British Government to visit Russia.

During the talks with Foreign Secretary William Hague the sides discussed the state and prospects of the Russian-British co-operation on a wide range of bilateral issues and topical matters of international agenda.

The Ministers noted with satisfaction positive trends in the development of the bilateral relationship, regular character of political dialogue, revitalization of interdepartmental contacts, constructive interaction on a range of international issues. They considered the prospects of securing favourable dynamics in the Russian-British relations, further steps of establishing positive bilateral agenda that could serve as a basis for searching for a solution of the remaining problem issues in a spirit of mutual respect and good will.

Attention was also paid to the remaining “problem topics” of the bilateral relationship. Both sides emphasized their determination to seek ways of rectifying the situation on the basis of pragmatic solutions in different areas, including visa facilitation for specific groups of applicants and strengthening co-operation between law enforcement bodies.

Economic and investment co-operation, which has seen spectacular growth in the recent years, remains a priority for the whole agenda of bilateral relations. The sides agreed to make a more active use of the UK-Russian Intergovernmental Steering Committee on Trade and Investment to enhance co-operation in the area of innovation and high technologies. The Ministers also discussed the prospects of adopting a program of specific steps for the implementation of the initiative of knowledge-based partnership between Russia and Britain.

The Ministers spoke out in favour of widening Russia-UK interaction in seeking answers to the contemporary global challenges, considered Europe issues, including the Russian initiative to conclude a European security treaty, disarmament agenda, strengthening of multilateral regimes of WMD non-proliferation, the situation in Egypt, Afghanistan, Middle East peace process and other topical international and regional issues.