His Majesty King Abdullah and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday attended the signing ceremony of four bilateral agreements between Jordan and Russia, including a JD25 million contract for the purchase of six Russian KA-226 helicopters from OPK Oboronprom JSC.

Under another deal signed between AvtoVAZ and a Jordanian motor manufacturing corporation, a plant to assemble Russian-made Lada cars will be established after the completion of a feasibility study, and its products will be marketed locally and at the regional level.

The two countries also signed an agreement on promotion and protection of investments in order to increase the flow of investments from Russia to Jordan and vice versa.

In addition, the two countries agreed to establish a Jordanian-Russian Business Council, which is expected to boost commercial exchange and enhance economic cooperation.

During the ceremony, King Abdullah said the agreements would enhance relations between the private sectors of Jordan and Russia.

The King also called on Russia to support the G-11 initiative launched last year.

In a joint press conference following his talks with Putin, King Abdullah said the G-11 is a group of countries whose economies are poised to stabilize at higher income levels.

His Majesty said that we are working together and partnering with countries of the developing world to make this happen. The G-11 will meet on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Jordan in May, and would like to establish an institutional framework of cooperation with the G-8. We look forward to Russia's support for the initiative.

Also on Tuesday, the Russian president visited the Baptism Site.

Putin toured the area and visited St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, accompanied by the King's Personal Envoy and Special Adviser HRH Prince Ghazi Ben Mohammad, who is chairperson of the Baptism Site board of trustees, and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Osama Dabbas.

The Jordan Times