Global General

Putin: Russia may adopt single currency with Europe

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-27 07:04

BERLIN - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Friday he was confident for the euro and Russia and Europe may join single currency someday in the future during his visit to Germany.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel speak to media during a news conference after their meeting in Berlin, Nov 26, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

The euro has shown its quality as a "stable world currency" even some eurozone countries are suffering debt crisis. Putin said at a forum of business leaders in Berlin

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He praised the measures taken by the European Central Bank to keep the stability of the currency and he was confident that the sovereign debt crisis will be overcome in the end.

Putin emphasized the importance of strengthening the cooperation between Russia and the European Union (EU), saying "a rapprochement between Russia and Europe is inevitable, if we want to be successful and competitive."

"Can we assume that Russia together with Europe will one day be in a single currency zone? I can assume that," he said.

Putin also criticized the dominance of US dollar in the world economy, which makes it vulnerable.

In a later joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin reiterated his will to strengthen cooperation with the EU, saying closer economic cooperation is the first step toward a monetary union.

Merkel also said closer economic ties are the first steps and will be helpful for later adjustments on currency policies in the future.

Before the meeting with Merkel, local newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung said on Thursday that Putin called for establishing a free trade zone with the EU, which was doubted by Merkel, saying "I have to pour a bit of cold water on it" as "the recent steps taken by Russia are not in the same direction" on that day.