Berlusconi: Italy to be Russian partner

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in Russia on an official visit, said Thursday Italy is on track to become Russia's biggest trading partner.

The trip was Berlusconi's first since Dmitry Medvedev became president of Russia, the Italian news agency Ansa reported.

Medvedev said trade between the countries increased 60 percent this year. Officials signed a total of 13 trade and cooperation agreements.

One of the more significant developments is an agreement by the Italian tire company Pirelli to begin manufacturing pneumatic tires in Russia by 2010. Construction is scheduled to begin next year on a new factory.

Germany is currently Russia's biggest trading partner but Berlusconi said Italy will soon replace it.

Berlusconi was accompanied by several members of his cabinet. He got some unwanted attention when he joked that Medvedev should be able to get along well with U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, who is also "young, handsome and suntanned."