"We are ready to move from realizing piecemeal projects to the creation of a full-scale partnership between Siemens and (Russia's state nuclear firm) Rosatom", Putin told Siemens chief executive Peter Loescher in Moscow.

"We can work actively together in Russia, Germany, as well as in the markets of third countries," he added, quoted by the Interfax news agency.

Siemens has been collaborating on joint projects with Rosatom in limited project work on nuclear power stations since the 1990s, including projects in Slovakia and Bulgaria.

But the comments from Putin -- still seen as Russia's most powerful man after ceding the presidency last year -- indicate the sides are ready to drastically step up this work.

Germany is Russia's main economic partner, accounting for 10 percent of its trade, despite strains between the European Union and Moscow since Russia's war with Georgia in August and gas crisis with Ukraine over the New Year.

Trade is expected to have reached at least 63 billion dollars in 2008 and Putin's meeting with the chief of one of Germany's most emblematic firms again underlined the importance of the relationship to Moscow.

Loescher said he was delighted to have the chance to discuss expanding Siemens' cooperation with Rosatom.

"We've been doing business in Russia for more than 150 years and have built up outstanding and successful partnerships here which we would like to further intensify," he said in a company statement.

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