The Democratic Party of Moldova (DPM) and the United Russia party will soon sign a cooperation agreement. The parties started working on the draft several weeks ago and its details were discussed during the visit of DPM leader Marian Lupu to St. Petersburg on Saturday, November 21, where he attended the congress of the United Russia, whose leader is the Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin. According to Voice of Russia radio's online version, Marian Lupu stated that the document practically received formal approval but some things needed to be refined. The DPM leader said the implementation of the agreement would allow them to assist each other, building at the same time, “a new platform for interaction”. “These plans will bring us new prospects for the cooperation between parties and the relationship between Russia and Moldova”, said Lupu, underlining that Russia must remain Moldova's strategic partner. This was Lupu's second visit to Russia since he was picked by the ruling Alliance for European Integration to be its candidate for president. Early next week Lupu will travel to Brussels to meet with representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Office of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.