Official website of the President of Russia

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President Vladimir Putin: Mr President, allow me to welcome you to Moscow. I am happy to see that our relations are continuing to develop.

Your visit this time has begun with the launching of a cultural project (I had the chance to see the event take place on television). The Simon Bolivar Centre in Moscow will certainly be a place where Russian people can learn more about Latin America and its history.

A symphony orchestra from our country recently toured Venezuela under your patronage, and this event was also a big success.

Now we are set to hold talks on our economic and military-technical cooperation.

I am very happy to see you and wish you welcome.

President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez: Thank you, Mr President, thank you, my brother.

Yes, my visit did indeed begin in a very fine way. Thank you for the invitation. This is my fifth visit to Moscow. How much has changed here!

I met with the mayor of Moscow this morning. He made a very good and resolute speech. The atmosphere was very inspiring in general with dances performed, Russian and Venezuelan music, a lot of young people, and it was in a very beautiful place here in Moscow.

We have opened the Simon Bolivar Centre. We promised to do this less than a year ago. I think this is a significant event.

For us, Simon Bolivar is the flame leading us onwards, today more than ever. I spoke with the mayor about the main currents in history, about the fact that we need to revive ideas, geopolitical ideas too.

How much has changed in the world since we first met in 2001! And this change has benefited precisely our ideas and the interests of our peoples.

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