MOSCOW, Oct. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said Monday that cooperation with Canada was developing "rather successfully."

    Meeting with his visiting Canadian counterpart Paul Martin, Fradkov said both sides maintained a political dialogue and boasted a strong potential in trade and economic relations and other fields.

    "Our task is to use this potential in maximum," Fradkov was cited by Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

    Fradkov said trade turnover between Russia and Canada increasedby 20 percent in the first half of this year as compared with the same period of last year, stressing that investment and business cooperation was developing dynamically.

    "Russia has the stable international financial and economic rating and its GDP continues to grow. It proves that Russia is an attractive partner for investments," he said.

    Fradkov's spokesman Alexander Zharov said after the Monday talks between the two prime ministers that bilateral cooperation in the fuel and energy sector "is very promising."

    Fradkov and Martin welcomed the ongoing dialogue between Russia' s Gazprom and the Petro-Canada Oil and Gas Company and their business cooperation, the spokesman said.

    Both companies have signed a memorandum of understanding that envisions "regular supplies of Russian liquified gas to the North American continent," said Zharov.

    The spokesman also confirmed that Russia and Canada are allies in the anti-terrorist coalition, noting that the fight against terrorism was one of priorities at the talks.

    Fradkov thanked Martin and Canada "for solidarity and support for the recent terrorist acts in Russia, primarily the horrible tragedy in Beslan," the spokesman said.

    The Russian prime minister also expressed deep condolences on the death of a Canadian sailor during the diesel submarine incident in the Irish Sea.

    Martin arrived here Monday on an official visit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Canadian premier said he expected the visit will promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of global security, give fresh impetus to commercial exchanges, and broaden the "northern dimension" of Canadian-Russian relations.

    Martin is scheduled to hold talks with Putin on Tuesday, attenda round-table conference of Canadian and Russian businessmen, and meet with Russian political scientists.

    Martin is to leave Moscow for Paris Wednesday, and then to travel on to the Hungarian capital Budapest on Thursday. Enditem