Iraq and Russia have expressed their keenness to develop relations and widen cooperation in all fields on Monday, a statement from the office of Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said.

Abdul Mahdi received a high Russian delegation headed by Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy to the Middle East and Africa and deputy foreign minister of Russia.

"Bogdanov delivered Putin's greetings and continuous support to Iraq's government and the interest to develop ties in all fields," the statement said.

"The prime minister expressed his appreciation to the relations between the two countries and peoples, and thanked Russia's supporting stance, and stressed Iraq's keenness to widen cooperation in the economic and investment fields and the development of oil and gas fields," the statement added.

According to the statement, Abdul Mahdi also praised Russia's role and balanced relations aimed at boosting security and stability in the region.

Iraq's Oil Minister Thamir al-Ghadhban also attended the meeting, while Yuri Shafranik, chairman of the Russian Union of Oil and Gas Producers was among the Russian delegation visiting Baghdad.

Iraq and Russia have long enjoyed good relations but it grew tepid following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

However, the relations between the two states have been flourishing in recent years, especially with Russia's support to Iraq in the fight against terror and increasing investments of Russian companies in oil and gas fields across Iraqi cities.

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