Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is in France on a two-day visit that is expected to see the signing of deals on energy and auto production.
Putin arrived in Paris late on Thursday and had an informal meal with his French counterpart Francois Fillon.
Russian energy giant Gazprom and France's Electricite de France (EdF) are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding during Putin's visit. According to reports, EdF may sign a deal with Gazprom for at least a 10% stake in the South Stream gas project.
Other deals include one on the reconstruction of the Russian auto giant AvtoVAZ, in which French company Renault holds a 25% stake.
On Friday, Putin and Fillon will take part in the 14th meeting of a Russian-French commission on bilateral cooperation. The meeting will discuss preparations for a Year of Russia in France and a Year of France in Russia, scheduled for 2010, as well as labor migration and child adoption.
France and Russia may also finally agree on the purchase of a French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship during Putin's visit.
While talks on the issue are not on Putin's agenda, Yury Ushakov, a deputy head of the Russian government staff, earlier said the sale of the vessel "could be discussed."
If the deal is signed, the Mistral will be the largest vessel Russia has ever bought, according to experts. The Mistral, worth 400-500 million euros (around $600-$750 mln), is inferior in size only to Russia's sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov.
A Mistral-class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 vehicles, including 13 battle tanks, as well as 450 military personnel. The vessel is equipped with a 69-bed hospital and can be used as an amphibious command ship.
The Mistral arrived on an official visit to St. Petersburg on Monday.
France is one of major foreign investors in Russia, with French investment reaching $8.6 billion as of late March 2009. Bilateral trade grew 35.3% to $22.2 billion in 2008, with Russian exports going up 40.4% to $12.2 billion, and French imports rising 29.6% to $10 billion.
However, trade between the two countries decreased by 28.5% year-on-year to $3.3 billion in the first quarter of 2009 amid the global credit crunch.
PARIS, November 27 (RIA Novosti)
