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President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Mr President,

I am happy for this opportunity to meet with you and to talk with you again, during our joint participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meetings and as we develop the bilateral relations between Russia and Afghanistan.

Together, we are addressing certain problems that pose a threat to our nations and to all our neighbouring countries. I therefore feel that our regular consultations are most fruitful and useful. I would like you to know that we will do everything we can to help Afghanistan create its own modern, effective political system and further develop as a prosperous nation.

I wish prosperity to all of Afghan society and everyone living in Afghanistan. I hope that you will be able to overcome the difficulties that your country faces. I wish you, Mr President, success in the political challenges that await you.

Naturally, we will discuss our bilateral relations, covering economic matters, humanitarian issues, and all other aspects of our relations.

President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai (as translated into Russian): Mr President, I would like to thank you with all my heart for your gracious invitation to participate in the SCO summit, and for the kind attitude and position that you have shown toward my nation, Afghanistan, and toward the Afghan people.

Through our friendship and our relations, Afghanistan and Russia present a good example of a relationship between two countries that share the historical experience of friendship and cooperation. I appreciate the help that your country, Russia, has provided to Afghanistan, particularly during the last seven years. This is in addition to the help we received before, but this recent period is particularly important to us, since you are helping us combat terrorism.

Mr President, I would like to express my hope that our relations will continue to improve, expand, and strengthen. I would like to express my deep gratitude for your help and your kind wishes.