Putin Praises Joint Venture With Boeing

President Vladimir Putin greets Alan Mulally (center) and the head of Boeing's Russia and CIS operations, Sergei Kravchenko, at his residence outside Moscow (ITAR-TASS) August 11, 2006 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised a joint venture formed by Russia's titanium monopoly VSPMO-Avisma and Boeing, the U.S. aerospace giant.

Under the deal, which was unveiled earlier today, the Russian company will supply some $18 billion worth of titanium parts for Boeing's latest passenger plane, 787 Dreamliner.

Putin made his comments ahead of a meeting with Boeing's chief executive, Alan Mullally.

(AP, AFP)