Official website of the President of Russia

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President Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, I am very glad of the opportunity to see you. Before starting our discussion, I want to recall my official visit to Thailand and once again to thank you for the warm reception accorded me and members of our delegation.

Our relations have been rapidly developing over the recent period practically in all directions: both in the area of economics and in the area of political dialogue. You and me were particularly concerned with problems of an economic nature. We face good prospects in high technology fields, and it seems to me that this might be subject of our special attention, just as the sphere of military technical cooperation.

I am very pleased to see you. I think in the course of work today and tomorrow we will have an opportunity to exchange opinions on the work within the APEC framework.

It is a pity that the Queen (of the Thailand) was unable to be our guest this year. We know that she was preoccupied with internal affairs. But I would like to confirm once again the invitation to the Queen to come to Russia at any time convenient to her.

Please convey my best wishes to Her Majesty the Queen.

Thaksin Shinawatra: Whenever I have an audience with Her Majesty the Queen, she mentions the visit you made last year. I know that you are busy with our bilateral relations, and I have heard a lot about how you work seriously and thoroughly on all problems. So I would like to send you an open proposal to come and rest a few days at Phuket.

Although you, Mr President, are still young, you nevertheless need a rest. And Thailand, I consider, is the best place for a rest.

Vladimir Putin: I agree entirely.

Thaksin Shinawatra: Mr President, thank you for your telephone call. We have sent our Minister of Commerce to Russia and hope that he will have productive discussions on the results of our deliberations.