US President Barack Obama has confirmed plans to visit Russia at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Obama made the statement when Putin called a second time to congratulate the US president on his reelection.
"Obama thanked Putin for the congratulations and the invitation and confirmed his readiness to come to Russia at a date to be agreed by the two sides,” Peskov said.
"Putin wished his US counterpart success in forming his new team," he said, adding that the two presidents confirmed their interest in "progressive development of bilateral relations in all spheres, including the economy.”
Elected president in 2008, on November 6 Obama was successfully re-elected for a new term in office.
Granting Russia permanent normal trading partner status "creates new opportunities for American business." This is said in a statement of the Office on Management and Budget of the White House on Tuesday.
The document was published soon after a legislative proposals committee of the House of Representatives approved a bill to abolish the notorious Jackson-Vanik amendment, and to provide corresponding status to Russia and Moldova.
The statement emphasizes that the U.S. administration is actively supporting the bill.
"American companies, workers, farmers are interested in reaping the same benefits on the Russian market, which are already experienced by other WTO members. Therefore, Congress should put an end to the amendment, and endow the president with a right to grant Russia permanent normal trading partner status," states the document.
A Committee on Rules of the US House of Representatives of the US Congress has recommended adopting a bill to repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment and the Magnitsky Law.
The vote will take place on Friday, November 16.
The Committee considered the so-called combined bill, to repeal the restrictive trade amendments, which also included provisions of the Magnitsky Bill.
The committee meeting was a technical one, voting was required to formally place the issue on the agenda of the meeting of the full house.
The Senate will consider the document shortly after the decision of the House of Representatives.