Russia has agreed to issue a two-year multiple entry visa for businesspeople from South Korea in order to promote business exchanges and economic ties between the two countries.

The agreement was announced Wednesday after talks in Moscow between Director General of the Foreign Ministry's consular affairs bureau Kim Wook and his Russian counterpart, Vladmir V. Kotenvev.

Kim told reporters the two countries have decided to negotiate a criminal extradition treaty and a visa-exemption accord for diplomats.

The two sides also agreed to cooperate more closely to ensure the safety of South Korean citizens in Russia and to protect the human rights of Russians who are residing illegally in South Korea.