INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the Kremlin on Wednesday for talks focused on economic
cooperation amid Western sanctions.The meeting came two days after the UN's civil aviation body held Russia responsible for the 2014 downing
of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine
Despite the timing, Putin said the two countries were considering launching direct flights.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had told
He added that the next session of the Russian-Malaysian intergovernmental economic commission is scheduled for the fall.Energy cooperation,
including potential joint projects in gas and nuclear energy, was highlighted as a key area for future development.Ibrahim, who is scheduled
transportation, agriculture and the digital economy.Ibrahim expressed hope for overcoming sanctions-related barriers to economic cooperation
food imports in response to sanctions imposed over its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
