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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, friends,

Allow me once again, this time in a more formal setting, to welcome you in Sochi.

Mr Prime Minister, we know you as a reliable friend of this country. Moreover, you and I studied in my hometown, then Leningrad, now St Petersburg, at almost the same time. We may have seen each other on the street back then.

We marked the 55^th anniversary of the establishment of relations between our countries, and I strongly hope that under your leadership, we will build on everything that has been done in the past, and will, of course, focus on the future of our relations.

I would like to thank you for supporting the idea to hold the ASEAN-Russia Summit on the 20^th anniversary of our relations here in Russia.

I am pleased to be able to discuss our bilateral relations with you.

Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith (retranslated):

Mr Putin,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with the Lao delegation.

I am pleased that after being appointed Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, I am now the co-chair of the summit taking place here.

Tomorrow marks exactly one month since I was appointed to the post of Prime Minister of the Lao PDR. Our meeting coincides with this date.

First, I would like to thank you for your efforts to ensure that the summit does take place in Sochi. As the country holding ASEAN chairmanship in 2016 and coordinating the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership, we will do our best to make sure that Russia-ASEAN relations grow and expand.

For many years now, Russia and Laos have been partners in the Asia-Pacific region, and we will do our best to promote our bilateral relations.

I would like to thank Russia for its invaluable assistance to our country in the process of nation building.

Our trade and economic relations, as well as investments, are developing steadily. Quite a few Russian companies have invested in Laos.

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