President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday said it was time for Ghana and the Russian Federation to raise the level of the relationship between them.

"We need to review the relationship between us to a more vigorous level ", he said.

President Kufuor made the observation when Mr Valery Orlov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Ghana, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

Mr Orlov said he had been able to know much about the country to form his opinion and could discuss issues with the government.

Their discussion, held behind closed doors centred on bilateral co-operation, economy and scholarships for Ghanaian students to study in Russia.

He said a high level Russian Parliamentary delegation and Businessmen were expected in the country next month to hold discussions with their Ghanaian counterparts.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the government was determined to establish strong relationship with Russia.

"We are determined to re-launch strong economic ties with Russia. During the First Republic a lot of work was done and we would see what could be done", he said.