Bush to Attend Meeting with Russian Energy Minister

WASHINGTON DC, Oct 25, 2005 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex)

The White House said President George W. Bush will "drop by" a meeting Monday between Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko and top administration officials.

Spokesman Scott McClellan said the meeting will be hosted by the National Security Council and the National Economic Council.

In addition to Khristenko and Russian oil and gas executives, McClellan said NEC Director Allan Hubbard, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, and Deputy National Security Advisors J.D. Crouch and Faryar Shirzad will attend the meeting.

McClellan said the meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss strengthening the U.S.'s ties with Russia.

Russia is keen to boost its energy trade with the United States, the world's biggest oil consumer. Khristenko, making his first visit to the U.S., is being accompanied by senior officials from state-controlled Gazprom (GSPBEX.RS), the world's largest natural gas producer, state oil concern Rosneft (RNT.YY) and a number of other industrialists from the aircraft, IT and mining sectors.

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