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Following the talks, a package of documents has been signed in the presence of the President of Russia and the Prime Minister of Italy, including a memorandum of understanding between the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities and the Italian Space Agency on cooperation in remote probing of the Earth’s surface; an agreement on basic conditions of cooperation between Rosneft and ENI; an agreement on the development of strategic partnership between Rosneft, Russian Helicopters and Leonardo-Finmeccanica; an agreement on basic conditions for establishing a joint venture between Rosneft and Fincantieri; and an agreement on strategic partnership and cooperation between NOVATEK and SAIPEM S.p.A. and NOVATEK and Nuovo Pignone.

Agreements on LNG and construction and a number of other documents were also signed.

Vladimir Putin and Matteo Renzi gave a joint news conference.

Beginning of meeting with Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi

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

Allow me to greet you once again, now in a perfectly business-like atmosphere. Thank you for accepting our invitation.

We have been talking about the depth of Russian-Italian contacts. This depth is there, and it is hard to find objections to it. As we know, Russian-Italian relations are going through some tests. However, the very fact that the Italian Prime Minister is now in Russia – in St Petersburg – shows that we have a shared desire to analyse our problems, overcome them and move forward.

Welcome again!

Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi (retranslated): Thank you, Mr President.

Thank you for your invitation and for the opportunity to participate in this wonderful forum, which has allowed me to visit this superb city.

I started the day jogging along the streets of your lovely city and saw with my own eyes the excellent state it is in, how clean and beautiful it is. After that, I reached out to the sublime, by visiting the Hermitage Museum. So I had a really wonderful morning.

Now it is with great pleasure that I will take this opportunity to discuss issues of Russian-Italian relations.

Thank you again for your invitation.

Vladimir Putin: I would like to thank you for your kind words about St Petersburg. It was very nice to hear them.

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