"Russia-German gas cooperation, it is developing very well indeed. Today we have reached the level about which we merely talked a few years ago. It was decided at the complicated talks, that our German partners would cooperate with us in producing gas on Russian territory. We are partners in the project you have mentioned, Nordstream, on transporting gas to Europe. Gazprom has become a co-owner of the German transportation network. It goes without saying that this makes our partnership well-balanced all the way."

"Obviously, one of the major anti-recessionary tools is federal budget funds. We must effectively allocate them to back solvent demand in the economy, and to ensure unqualified fulfillment of social liabilities, including timely payment of state-paid employees' wages, pensions, and benefits."

“This is an ambitious goal,” he said. “However, we plan to attain it by increasing R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP in 2020 from 1.12% in 2007, and also by dramatically increasing the results attained by fundamental and applied research and design projects.”

"Efforts to streamline the sphere of competition are called on to improve Russian economic patterns, to facilitate the more effective performance of its sectors and separate enterprises, to provide substantial incentives for reducing outlays and improving the quality of our goods and services and developing small and medium businesses."

“We have created a substantial budget stability and safety cushion. It will last for over three years,” Mr Kudrin said.

The meeting analysed the market situation, discussed various aspects of implementing the decisions taken at earlier government meetings. It also discussed steps to improve and monitor the sector.

The commission discussed preparations for its session in New Delhi, India on December 3, 2008. This session will focus on implementing a task set at top level – to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2010.