Putin thanks Yemen for cooperation in international arena

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday thanked Yemen for its cooperation in the international arena.

“We interact in the international arena, and we are grateful to you for cooperation in this area,” Putin said during a meeting with Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi in Moscow.

Expressing that their diplomatic and foreign policy departments are in “constant contact,” Putin said relations between their countries have been long-standing and friendly.

He further said Moscow plans to host the inaugural Russia-Arab World summit in October this year, hoping for al-Alimi’s personal participation in the upcoming event.

Putin went on to say that the “vast majority” of Russia’s friends in the Arab world have agreed, also noting that they are also working with the Arab League.

“The work on preparing this summit is proceeding steadily. And we hope that this will benefit the development of relations with our friends in the Arab world,” he said.

The Russian president also said that both countries’ trade and economic ties are developing successfully, stating they have a trade turnover of around $400 million, which he described as a “satisfactory volume.”

“And there are very good, promising areas (for development). I mean agriculture, fisheries… the extraction of minerals, energy. In short, there is something to talk about, and we count on the earliest possible resumption of the work of the Intergovernmental Commission,” he added.

For his part, al-Alimi said that his government hopes for Russia's help in “returning peace, stability and security to Yemen.”