Russian President Dmitry Medvedev begins a two-day visit to Finland on Monday to discuss bilateral economic ties, energy issues, including the Nord Stream project, and prospects for signing a pan-European security pact.

A Kremlin aide said Medvedev is making the visit at the invitation of his Finnish counterpart Tarja Halonen.

"The agenda for the visit envisages top-level talks and a meeting with the parliament''s leadership," Sergei Prikhodko said.

Energy cooperation is expected to feature highly on the agenda, with Russia meeting 100% of Finland''s gas needs as well as exporting some 70% of the country''s crude oil supplies.

"When discussing issues concerning the construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, running under the Baltic Sea across the Finnish economic zone, the accent will focus on the observance of the strictest environmental requirements during the project''s implementation," the presidential aide said.

Environmental approval is required from Finland, as well as Sweden, Denmark and Germany, to build the pipeline which will cross their territorial waters. Other Baltic nations are also involved in talks to discuss potential border cooperation as part of the project.

The pipeline''s first leg of some 1,200 km with an annual capacity of 27.5 billion cu m of gas is planned to be commissioned in 2010. Work to launch the second line is expected to be completed by 2012.