Italian president Ciampi in Moscow

Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi launched a three-day visit to Russia for talks with top leaders on boosting trade in oil, gas and cars, and Russia's evolving role in Europe. Ciampi arrived in Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin. Other meetings were to include Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, parliamentary leaders, and Russia's Orthodox Church leader, Patriarch Alexy II.
The Italian delegation is expected to sign agreements with the Russians on cooperation in space exploration and the film industry. Russia is keen to increase European investment in Russia, and boost trade turnover. Italy is Russia's fifth-largest trade partner, with turnover between the countries in the first half of 2000 reached $ 3.8 bn, compared with $ 4.9 bn last year, according to Russia's Economics and Trade Ministry. Much of that was in the form of Russian exports of oil and gas and other raw materials.

Ciampi was expected to discuss projects including Italian automaker Fiat's production at Russia's Gazfactory in Nizhny Novgorod, and plans for joint production of training aircraft at a Russian factory. The visit includes stops in St. Petersburg and the city of Tambov southeast of Moscow.
Ciampi was to unveil of a monument to Dante in Moscow and open an exhibit of Italian masterpieces in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini was accompanying Ciampi, and was scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov.