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Earlier, the President of Russia presented the King of Spain with the Russian National Award for Outstanding Achievements in Humanitarian Work in 2010.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Your Majesty, please allow me to once again sincerely welcome you to Moscow.

I would like to thank you for accepting our invitation and congratulate you one more time on receiving the National Award of the Russian Federation.

Your decision to donate the monetary part of this award to help a city that suffered from an earthquake is truly an excellent use for this money.

I want to thank you for your condolences in connection with the great tragedy in the south of Russia, where many people died as a result of flooding.

I want to note, Your Majesty, that relations between our countries are developing very successfully. This is true of the economy and of our political contacts.

I am very pleased to note that you have brought a large group of Spanish entrepreneurs with you. We will now have the chance to meet and talk with them.

I am certain that your visit will serve as another occasion to explore opportunities that remain unused.

Now, with the global economy going through difficult times, such contacts are most useful as behind every project and every investment, there are companies, people and new jobs.

We are very happy to see you. Welcome!

King Juan Carlos I Of Spain (retranslated): Thank you very much for your welcome, and thank you very much for this award – it is an honour for me personally and for all the people of Spain.

I would like to note that I arrived here accompanied by a significant delegation that includes Spanish businesspeople, as you have already noted. The goal is to develop the already excellent relations existing between Russia and Spain even further.

This morning, I had the chance to meet and speak with the mayor of Moscow. He and I discussed the project for expanding Moscow: this is a large-scale, highly significant project.

My delegation, the delegation of entrepreneurs, includes representatives of various sectors: energy, infrastructure, defence. I should say they represent world-class companies. For example, in use of wind energy or renewable energy resources, our companies are at the forefront.

My delegation also includes two ministers: the Foreign Minister and the Industry, Energy and Tourism Minister, as well as two state secretaries one of whom is in charge of trade issues, while the other is responsible for promoting Spain throughout the world.

I would like to personally thank you for the warm welcome I experience every time I visit Russia. Whenever I come here, I always feel at home.

Thank you.

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