The prime minister received the No 7 hockey jersey from the Latvian president.
Yesterday Vladimir Putin met with Latvian President Valdis Zatlers at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. Both officials spoke Russian.
While introducing Russia's participants at the meeting, Vladimir Putin mentioned Pyotr Aven, co-chairman of the Russian-Latvian business council.
"This is your man on our team," Putin said with a smile.
The prime minister went on to say that Russia and Latvia were cooperating on many projects in the energy sector and in transport, including railways, highways and port infrastructure. In the crisis year of 2009, trade between Russia and Latvia dropped to 48% but has already rebounded by 53% in 2010.
"We have every reason to believe that we will approach the pre-crisis level of $8.5 billion," Vladimir Putin said. "This is a positive trend. Our objective is to preserve and strengthen this positive trend. We should do our best to ensure that our relations continue to develop."
Putin recalled that Russian consumers are well aware of Latvian goods, including agricultural products, and that they "enjoyed a good reputation."
"The main thing is to ensure that businesses focus on business risks rather than political risks," the Latvian president said. "I back the elimination of visas between Russia and Latvia but our two countries need to start doing their homework and taking appropriate steps at once."
President Zatlers recalled their conversation in Helsinki earlier that year that dealt with the KHL Continental Hockey League.
"This is almost a project of mine," Putin pointed out.
"When I returned home people asked me: "What did you talk about?" I replied: "About hockey," the Latvian president said smiling. "I now want to present you with a gift."
He unexpectedly took out a crimson Dynamo Riga hockey jersey from his bag with Number 7 on it and Putin on the back.
"A lucky number," Putin smiled.
"Introducing Pyotr Aven, you said that he is our man on your team, but now you are your man on our team," Zatlers said.
By Larisa Kaftan