Deputy Prime Minister Zhukov is in Madrid for the closing ceremony of the Spain-Russia 'Dual Year'.
Bilateral relations between the two countries are solid and are enjoying a positive period, as can be testified by the visit of President Medvedev in 2009, the signing of a Strategic Association declaration and the Spain-Russia 'Dual Year'.
The President of the Government stressed that the 'Dual Year' has shown the importance of the great potential of bilateral relations, which has been materialised through specific initiatives at a cultural and economic level, and the importance of taking advantage of a clear road forward to strengthen strategic relations between the two countries.
At an economic level, the President of the Government agreed with Alexander Zhukov on the interest of the two governments in Spanish companies continuing to participate in the modernisation process of Russia, as has already taken place in such sectors as infrastructures.
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José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Alexander Zhukov also analysed the economic situation in Europe and commented on the need to make progress in talks on a new EU-Russia Association Agreement at the Summit to be held next week between the European Union and Russia.
The President of the Government congratulated the Russian Deputy Prime Minister on his party's victory in the weekend's elections and thanked him for his presence in Madrid just one day after the elections.
The last occasion on which the President of the Government met with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister was on12 November 2008. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was in contact with President Medvedev in June 2011 on the occasion of the Economic Forum in Saint Petersburg, and in November at the G-20 Summit.