VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Mr Secretary, thank you for accepting our invitation and coming to Russia.
Our countries were allies in World War II and contributed considerably to the defeat of Nazism and Japanese militarism.
Today, we are united in a colossal number of joint efforts - we have harmonised our positions in the international arena and are working very effectively in terms of our economies.
Quite recently, we kicked off events associated with the Year of Chinese Language in Russia.
I know how much effort the Chinese leadership and you personally have invested into the Year of Russian language in China and, indeed, it was a very successful year!
I'm sure that the Year of Chinese Language in Russia - which is essentially another year of Chinese culture in Russia - will also be successful.
We are very glad to see you, Mr Secretary. Welcome!
Hu Jintao (as translated): Mr Prime Minister, I'm very glad to meet with you again. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your invitation to attend the jubilee celebrations of 65th anniversary of Victory in World War II.
I would like to thank you for the wonderful accommodations arranged for my visit. Moreover, after the recent powerful earthquake in Yushu County, Qinghai province, you immediately sent me a letter of condolences. Russia also provided us with humanitarian aid. Accordingly, we express our heartfelt gratitude to your country.
A few days ago, the Shanghai Expo opened successfully. Russia is actively involved in the Shanghai Expo and is providing our country with considerable support, and I also would like to express profound gratitude accordingly.
As you know, this year is the 65th anniversary of the victorious end of World War II. The fact that your country is carrying out anniversary celebrations is very significant.
In the past few years, some entities in the world have attempted to distort or even rewrite history in order to disparage the contribution of the Soviet Union to the Victory in World War II.
We have the same position as Russia with regard to the historical assessment of World War II.
I think it is appropriate that we will continue to strengthen our coordination and ties in order to defend the faithful representation and solemnity of history.
You and I have agreed to hold a whole series of events to celebrate the 65th anniversary of our common victory. China will conduct these events in the most solemn manner possible, in order for them to have a very good effect.
Mr Prime Minister, as you correctly noted, relations between China and Russia are improving. We are working together in the most diverse areas. Moreover, our cooperation had already brought real benefits for both countries. And in order to address a whole series of crucial international problems, we support strong coordination and cooperation between our countries.
Last year we successfully held the Year of Russian Language in our country, and the Year of Chinese Language in Russia has gotten off to a good start this year. I'm sure that these events will enable us to strengthen the friendship between our countries even more and bring our relations to a higher level.
Vladimir Putin: We had the opportunity to watch the opening of the Shanghai Expo, and we were very happy for you.
After the Olympics in Beijing, China has once again demonstrated its economic might, and this time demonstrated its orientation towards the future.
And the fact that you personally saw fit to travel to the celebrations of 65th anniversary of victory in World War II once again underscores both the high level of our intergovernmental relations and your personal attitude towards the development of Russian-Chinese relations. And we are very grateful to you for this.
