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Russian-Austrian restricted talks, which the delegations joined later, culminated in the signing of a number of bilateral documents.

These included an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation for support of business, an agreement between the Altai Region’s Government and the authorities of the Federal Region of Styria on plans for cooperation in the social sphere, and also an agreement on bilateral cooperation for assistance to small businesses in Russia.

After the talks, Mr Putin and Mr Klestil answered journalists’ questions.

In the evening, the Austrian President gave a banquet at the Hofburg Palace in honour of the Russian President. At the gala reception, Mr Putin said that Austria’s neutral status and independent foreign policy had won that country global trust: Austria has become a major centre of world politics and diplomacy.

Mr Putin stressed that Russia and Austria are traditional and reliable partners. There are no principal differences between the two countries and all the arising problems are settled with due consideration given to each other’s interests, he said.