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The agenda of the talks included key issues related to the further development of Russian-Hungarian cooperation and a number of topical regional and international matters, in particular, the developments in Ukraine and Syria.

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

It is a pleasure to welcome you to Moscow.

Of course, Hungary is one of our key partners in Europe. Relations are developing in almost all areas: the Intergovernmental Commission is working actively and regional and interregional relations are progressing.

Trade also shows positive dynamics, with a 25 percent growth last year and a further 30 percent in the first six months of this year.

We have about $1 billion of mutual investments and good, highly promising and ambitious projects that are being implemented.

I am very happy to see you. Of course, we have a lot to discuss.

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban (retranslated): Mr President,

I would like to thank you for this opportunity to be here. I am glad that this year we are having another bilateral meeting.

Our meetings are of utmost importance for Hungarian politics because what we have is an important partnership. Hungary needs good partners. I am glad that over a period of several years we have had balanced and predictable relations.

I cannot say that there has always been a favourable climate for our cooperation, I mean the international climate. But all these unpleasant things exist for us to fight together. I think we are doing a good job.

Despite the fact that our trade has decreased due to EU sanctions, we have managed to reverse this trend in our favour.

I have arrived here today with the intention of thanking you for all the work that we have done together over the past few years because we must, naturally, change the situation when it comes to trade, as well as taking care of bilateral development in the energy sector, agriculture, culture and other spheres.

I would like to thank you on behalf of our country for being such a good partner.

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