Two-day working visit

Together with his wife and daughter, Gerhard Schroeder will celebrate Orthodox Christmas in Moscow. He will do that in the family circle of Russian President Vladimir Putin with whom he will also talk about economics and politics Federal German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder arrives in Russia tomorrow together with his wife Doris Schroeder-Kopf and 10-year old daughter Klara for an informal meeting with President Vladimir Putin. This will be a two-day working visit in the course of which the German leader will celebrate the Orthodox Christmas in Moscow and will spend time in the family circle of the Russian President. When in June of last year Vladimir Putin, for the first time as Russia's President, met with Schroeder in Berlin, the German Chancellor, after his meeting with the Russian President, described him as "a knowledgeable partner capable of orientating himself in a situation right down to the smallest details." At the same time the Chancellor emphasized that a new chapter was opening up in the Russian-German dialogue. He also pointed out that for Germany relations with Russia were of strategic significance. On his part, Putin described Germany as the nucleus of European integration and Russia's important partner in Europe. Germany occupies first place among the largest countries investing in the Russian economy. On January 1, 2000 the total volume of German investments amounted to almost $7 billion. This accounts for 23.7% of all foreign investments in Russia. The main investments are funneled towards the fuel and energy complex, information science, medical equipment and trade.