Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Against the background of economic difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Russia and Germany are striving to strengthen economic cooperation. Agreements were reached to carry out joint work within the framework of the thematic year "Economy and Sustainable Development 2020-2022".

Along with this, with the participation of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy and the Russian-German Chamber of Commerce, a new German-Russian Council of Entrepreneurs began its work, the key areas of work of which are determined: a) energy and climate protection; b) cooperation within the framework of the "Green Deal of Europe" and the development of the hydrogen economy; c) digital economy, agriculture and healthcare; d) localization of German companies in Russia; e) vocational training; f) export from Russia.

According to experts, the new initiatives are designed to give an additional impetus to Russian-German relations by eliminating the reasons that prevent German entrepreneurs from doing full-fledged business in Russia.

Thus, according to surveys, 69% of the companies-respondents in Germany (in 2019 there were 31% of them) indicate a worsening of the business climate in the Russian Federation. Only 12% note positive dynamics (in 2019 - 30%). The main obstacles to doing business are: a) unstable exchange rate (72% of respondents); b) restrictions introduced to combat the pandemic (45%).

According to analysts, the intensification of economic cooperation between the two countries at this stage can help overcome the emerging crisis in political relations. Russia is becoming less interesting to young German politicians and public figures. And supporters of maintaining relations with the "Eastern partner" are gradually leaving politics. A situation has arisen in which the German establishment is not doing enough work to build contacts with the new generation.

In general, according to experts, despite the persisting political differences, the mutual interest of representatives of the business circles of Russia and Germany in expanding mutually beneficial cooperation can reduce the "degree of tension" that has arisen in Russian-German relations.