Official website of the President of Russia

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Vladimir Putin: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen!

I am very pleased to note that our meetings take place on a regular basis, and our interaction is expanding beyond an exclusive focus on problems and challenges. Trade is also growing, expected to reach nearly nine billion [dollars] this year. Our trade and economic ties are diversifying, notably across high-technology sectors, such as our plans to cooperate in space technology.

I am very pleased to say that the legal base of treaties underlying our cooperation is also strengthening. And, of course, international cooperation and crisis management are very important to us as well.

I hope that our today’s meeting will add momentum to the development of our diversified cooperation. Investment cooperation could, I believe, be the most promising area.

I am very happy to see you.

Roh Moo-Hyun (translated from Russian): This is our fifth meeting.

As you have just said, bilateral investment and trade are consistently on the rise. Our interaction is actively developing in many areas, including energy, defense, and manufacturing industries. I would also like to highlight our space cooperation. I place great hopes on the development of our trade with the Russian Federation.

Unfortunately, because of the unresolved North Korean nuclear problem, transport links between the North and the South are not very good, which causes certain problems. However, as soon as a permanent transport links between the Koreas is in place, this will hopefully further our cooperation with Russia, too.