A 'strong Russia' maintains the balance in the world, former French leader Jacques Chirac has claimed in a meeting with the Russian premier.

"There could be no balance in the world without a strong Russia", AFP quoted Chirac as saying to the visiting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

During the ex-presidents reunion, Chirac was as well complimentary about his former counterpart's years in office.

"These ten years have been, unquestionably, great years for Russia," said Chirac about Putin's eight years of presidency and two years of premiership under Boris Yeltsin.

For his part, Putin honored Chirac with Russia's State Award for 'outstanding achievements in humanitarian activities' which Chirac is due to receive in Moscow in two weeks' time.

The meeting came after Putin met on Thursday with the incumbent French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a working dinner, the details of which are due to be released.

Chirac's endearing tone in which he valued his 'very deep friendship' with Putin, however, seemed to contradict the tone Sarkozy had set in his 'sharp but constructive' Thursday talks with Putin.

HN/MMN