Question: It has been reported that Igor Ivanov is to visit Belgium on July 10. What is the general background of Russian-Belgian relations on the eve of this trip?

Answer: Political contacts between Russia and Belgium are characterised by their dynamic development and regularity. Mutual interest in promoting both political and economic co-operation was confirmed during the visits by the Russian president to Belgium in October 2001 and November 2002, as well as during the visit by Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov to that country in April 2002.

The 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Belgium, to be marked this year, is an important cultural and historical landmark of the visit. This event also affords a good opportunity to give a co-ordinated impulse to further strengthening the positive perception by the public of our countries of the level and prospects of bilateral co-operation.

The coming official visit by Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov should be viewed as a logical continuation of steadily developing Russian-Belgian political dialogue.

Question: What areas of Russian-Belgian co-operation are of particular interest?

Answer: Belgium is our long-standing trade and economic partner. Potentially attractive areas of co-operation are the aerospace industry, military technical co-operation, metals, building, and the food equipment industries.

In 2000, mutual trade reached 1.56 billion US dollars. Although the volume of trade is growing, there are considerable untapped reserves in trade and economic relations, especially in investment co-operation.

Russian-Belgian cultural and scientific ties are also developing in many directions. In September 2002, for example, the government of the Brussels-Capital Region gave Moscow a sculpture by Olivier Strebelle, "L'Enlevement d'Europe", as a gift. Last October, a Belgian, Frank de Winne, made a flight aboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz. Crown Prince Filip attended the landing of the craft.

Belgium took an active part in celebrations of the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg. On the initiative of Jo Haazen, the head of the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen, much work was done to restore the musical traditions of the St Peter and St Paul Fortress in St Petersburg, and in May a jubilee postage stamp was issued jointly. In August, it is planned to hold a week of Flemish art.

Co-operation with Belgium in various fields is increasingly assuming the nature of a deepened partnership, which found its confirmation in a third joint programme of action between Russia and Belgium until 2003-2004, planned to be signed in the course of the visit. It is a kind of schedule of concrete events to further develop Russian-Belgian co-operation in different areas. The document has justified itself as a tool for advancing bilateral relations.