Putin invites Chirac to Russia

PARIS, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin used a meeting in Paris as an opportunity to invite former French President Jacques Chirac to visit Russia.

Putin also told Chirac of upcoming efforts to bolster ties between their nations, ITAR-Tass reported Friday.

"We shall be glad to meet you in Moscow, in any part of the Russian Federation," Putin said.

"I am happy to tell you that we have an extensive program for today and that many things that we started together continue to develop rapidly. We are on the way to beginning the implementation of the Kourou (space) program."

Putin cited the "developing cooperation" between the two nations in the aircraft industry.

"The French partners own 30 percent of shares in Superjet-100 -- one of the most ambitious joint projects in the sphere of aviation," Putin said. "The engines produced by our French partners are the best in Europe."