ELSINKI, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said here Thursday that his country and Finland would boost bilateral cooperation in all fields.

    "In practically all fields, we have plans to build up relations and increase volumes of trade, and we will give this cooperation all forms of support at state level," Putin told a joint news conference in Helsinki with Finnish President Tarja Halonen after talks.

    Finland is one of Russia's main partners in the energy industry, said Putin, who is on a brief working visit to Finland and will attend the EU-Russia summit Friday in Helsinki.

    "Russia has always viewed Finland as a key economic partner," said Putin.

    Bilateral trade increased 14 percent in January-August over the same period of last year, and Russia saw a 15-17 percent growth in export to Finland, he said.

    Putin also expressed satisfaction with bilateral energy cooperation, adding Russia supplies 90 percent of the natural gas that Finland needs.

    Halonen expressed the hope that Finland would export and invest more in Russia after the latter joins the World Trade Organization.

    The EU-Russia summit is expected to discuss cooperation in energy, environment, education and culture, justice and home affairs between Russia and the European Union.