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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends.

I am very happy to see you on an official visit to Moscow.

You have already been to Russia in 2019, during the First Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi. I would like to thank you for representing South Sudan at the highest level during the Second Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg this past summer. I would like to note that it proved quite successful.

Relations between our countries are developing rather intensively. We were among the first countries to recognise the sovereignty and independence of South Sudan.

I would like to say that, in our opinion, much remains to be done, primarily in the sphere of economic development.

Last year, we recorded a certain decline in bilateral trade. However, we can see trade increasing this year, and this is only the beginning. We have many favourable opportunities in many diverse fields, including energy. I hope that current projects, including the construction of a refinery in your country with the assistance of a Russian company, and plans for the second phase of this project will benefit the development of our trade and economic ties.

We continue to cooperate in the humanitarian sphere. Students from your country study at Russian universities, and we are determined to expand this cooperation.

I know that you maintain direct contacts with the Russian Federation’s regions, including Tatarstan, and I hope that this aspect of our activities will continue to develop.

Of course, we realise that future sustainable development largely depends on the efforts to ensure security and to resolve all the problems and difficulties that you have inherited from the past. We will therefore do everything possible to support you in this respect, as well.

I am very happy that you have found an opportunity to come to Russia to discuss all these issues, including issues of regional stability and security. I would be most interested to know your opinion on these issues.

Welcome to Russia, Mr President.

President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir: Thank you very much.

I am happy for the warm welcome that has been given to us with my delegation. I am here today as an opening for our long walk into the future. We would work together as I have come here. Yes, and it was the first time when we met in Sochi, and then nothing has been done after that.

I am happy that I am here today, and would have to say other things, maybe, in the same meeting or in the other meetings. And we will work together, as the world dictates, nobody can stand alone, and I cannot do it alone.

We are the youngest nation in the world, and we need our own friends. You are one of them. We do not see any alternative besides you.

Today, I don’t really have much to say, but I have to thank you for the invitation to come to Moscow.

Thank you.

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