MOSCOW, July 30 - RAPSI. Russia has ratified an agreement to simplify its visa regime with the US, and the corresponding law has been published on the website of Rossiskaya Gazeta, the government newspaper.

The document, signed on November 21, 2011, was to designed to simplify travel between Russia and the US, and for the development of economic, cultural, scientific and humanitarian ties between the two countries.

The US Department of State said that the implementation of the agreement will enable trade and economic cooperation between the two countries to be extended.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said earlier that Russia considers the agreement a very important document and a first step toward a visa-free regime between the two countries.

The State Duma adopted the document on July 6; the Federation Council approved it on July 18, 2012.