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President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiev: Dear Dmitry Anatolyevich! Distinguished members of the official delegation of the Russian Federation!

Let me warmly welcome you to hospitable Kyrgyzstan. First of all, I would like to thank you, Dmitry Anatolyevich, for accepting the invitation to make an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic as well as for Russia's prompt assistance to the victims of a tragic disaster in the south of our country and assistance in the aftermath of this tragedy. The people of Kyrgyzstan appreciate this support with real gratitude.

I would like to stress that strengthening our strategic partnership with Russia remains one of our main foreign policy priorities. Kyrgyzstan was, is and remains Russia's reliable and consistent ally, and we intend to further develop cooperation in all spheres. Our nations hold the same or similar positions on key regional and international issues, and cooperate closely in international and regional organisations. We engage in regular political dialogue at the highest levels, have contacts and visits at all levels of state authorities, hold consultations between our executive and legislative branches – things which give dynamism and constructive guidance to our relationship.

To support this statement I want to cite the fact that just recently the President of the Federation Council of Russia Sergei Mikhailovich Mironov visited Bishkek. The Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Igor Vitalevich Chudinov made a working visit to Moscow and held consultations about the special services. Yesterday the Kyrgyzstan-Russian Intergovernmental Commission ended its regular session and cooperation on all fronts is proceeding actively. We also stressed in our personal meetings that Kyrgyzstan-Russian relations are developing steadily, dynamically, and have very good prospects.

Now I would like to give you the floor, Dmitry Anatolyevich. Please go ahead.

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you very much.

Dear Kurmanbek Salievich! Dear Kyrgyz colleagues!

I would certainly like to once again express my gratitude for the invitation to visit the Kyrgyz Republic and discuss all the issues in our relations. Once again, I would also like to say some words of sympathy concerning the tragedy that occurred a few days ago, and express our desire to help in the aftermath of the disaster. Unfortunately, we are well acquainted with such examples and difficulties.

You just talked about how our relations are developing and I cannot but support this. Our relations are really sustained by a solid, positive momentum and a trusting dialogue at all levels: at the presidential, ministerial and departmental levels. And we expect to continue to do so and to develop our relations further in this direction.

Our trade and economic relations are very intense, although there is certainly no limit as to how they can be improved. We just discussed the fact that we need to strengthen existing cooperation as well as look for new areas that are both mutually beneficial and interesting. But nevertheless current trade trends are very good: this year we saw an increase of almost 60 per cent. I hope we will reach a figure of around 1.7 billion dollars. I would like to repeat once again that we have work to do.

Our Intergovernmental Commission has been working and prepared a significant number of documents. Today we will sign these documents or witness their signing. I believe that this mechanism should be used in the future. We have good prospects in energy, a good basis for cooperation in the agricultural sphere, and in other areas as well. I believe that if we make the efforts, then we will see desired results.

Literally two words about cooperation in the cultural and educational spheres. It is also developing – I am referring to the sizable Russian community that lives in Kyrgyzstan and a number of educational projects. I cannot fail to mention a project such as the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University which, in fact, has already gained momentum: it has many professors and many students. Therefore we will continue to work here, just as we will continue to educate the citizens of Kyrgyzstan in Russian universities.

There are good things which are taking place or which will take place in the CIS and in other forums. One such example is the Aitmatov and Modernity forum that will be held in Bishkek in December. We also consider that this is a good positive message, a positive result of our cooperation in the cultural and educational spheres. Therefore, thank you once again very much for inviting me. I hope that we will continue our discussion in an expanded format now.

Kurmanbek Bakiev: Thank you Dmitry Anatolyevich.