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The IMF Managing Director is taking part in the work of the  Background information St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Ms Lagarde, colleagues. Allow me to cordially welcome you in St Petersburg.

First of all, I would like to thank you for deciding to attend this forum. It is becoming increasingly representative, interesting, spirited and substantive. In this sense, it presents a certain value because specialists of different levels and representatives of various economic sectors and states have an opportunity to discuss informally current issues of world politics and finance.

The fund you head is playing an important role in supporting global economic and financial stability. As a member of the fund, Russia is interested in enhancing its efficiency. Therefore, we will be looking forward to your statements at similar events and G20 forums. We always find your assessments and forecasts very interesting.

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde: Thank you so much, President.

 I was delighted to come back to your home town, St Petersburg. I only had one regret because last time I was at the forum it was in St Petersburg downtown and it is such a gorgeous beautiful city that I miss the fact that it was there and now it is here. But I was very lucky yesterday because Mr Mozhin [Alexei Mozhin, IMF Executive Director for Russia], who is the representative of Russia on the board of the IMF, gave me half a day in St Petersburg, from the Cathedral of Saint Peter to the Hermitage to a little dinner on the river Neva. So that is good.

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