Russian President Vladimir Putin and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday hailed bilateral relations and pledged to continue cooperation in the fields of energy and space technology, news agencies reported.

"Our relations have been developing quite successfully. This year we mark the 40th anniversary of our diplomatic relations and a Malaysian astronaut is to fly to the International Space Station (on Russian aircraft)," Putin told Badawi at Kremlin.

Russia and Malaysia have witnessed growing economic ties in recent years. Bilateral trade hit 1.13 billion U.S. dollars last year, nearly double that of 2002 and Malaysia ranks No. 1 among Southeast Asian countries in trade with Russia.

The two countries are also enhancing military relations, besides cooperation in other sectors such as telecommunication and information technology, education and tourism.

Russia has delivered the first two Su-30MKM fighter planes to Malaysia under a contract inked in 2003, Itar-Tass reported early Tuesday. According to the contract, Russia will sell 18 planes of the Su-family by the end of 2008.

"The relationship between Malaysia and Russia has been developing quite successfully. Malaysia is exceedingly pleased that it is taking part in a project aimed at advancing the space exploration industry," Badawi was quoted as saying.

It is Badawi's first visit to Moscow as prime minister and chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Source: Xinhua