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Following the joint news conference, Vladimir Putin and Sauli Niinistö took a boat to the pier of Suomenlinna Fortress, where the talks continued during a working dinner.

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Beginning of the conversation with President of Finland Sauli Niinistö

President of Finland Sauli Niinistö (in Russian): Welcome. Mr President, ladies and gentlemen.

(retranslated) It is a privilege for me to welcome you once again at the Presidential Palace in Finland, about one year after your preceding visit. We greatly appreciate the fact that you have been able to find time for visits of this kind, for coming here to Helsinki to see us, despite your busy schedule.

We have been following your visit to France very closely and with a lot of interest. As far as we understand, it was a success. Successful visits are exactly what we need right now.

Welcome.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, colleagues,

First of all, Sauli, thank you for your invitation.

There has always been forward momentum in relations between Russia and Finland in all areas, and we are satisfied with the level of our relationship.

We maintain contacts of all kinds: between parliaments, governments and NGOs. Of course, we always attach great importance to people-to-people contacts.

I do hope that during today’s meeting we will be able to discuss both the bilateral agenda and international matters, that is all questions of mutual interest.

(in Finnish) Kiitos [Thank you].

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