Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Wen Jiabao (Via interpreter): Esteemed Mr Prime Minister. You and I have just exchanged detailed and trustful opinions on an entire range of significant issues of mutual interest. As a result of this meeting, you and I have reached an agreement on a broad range of issues. Right now, I’m ready to hold our meeting with you as the co-chairperson and to continue exchanging opinions on bilateral issues and cooperation in various spheres.
I would like to stress that the Chinese government is ready to continue exerting additional efforts with the Russian government to jointly build upon Chinese-Russian relations in the form of all-out strategic cooperation and partnership. These relations are marked by equality, trust, mutual support and prosperity, as well as friendship from generation to generation. You and I are ready to jointly facilitate the all-round, profound development of Chinese-Russian strategic cooperation in the most diverse areas, as well as practical cooperation. This, in turn, certainly serves as a major contribution to global peace, stability and development.
Vladimir Putin: Esteemed Mr Wen Jiabao. Dear friends. I would like to greet the participants of the sixteenth regular meeting of the Russian and Chinese heads of government. As usual, our negotiations are taking place in a businesslike atmosphere and in conditions of mutual understanding and friendship. We strive to compromise on the most complicated issues. Considering our tremendous bilateral ties and relations, such complicated issues inevitably arise. We absolutely lack any problems in the political and humanitarian sphere. We have achieved a high – unprecedentedly high – level of mutual cooperation.
As far as trade and economic ties are concerned, it is very good that numerous issues of a pragmatic nature are being tackled here. As I have already said in restricted negotiations, those who sell want to get more for their products, while those who buy want to acquire cheaper and better products. But we have always been able to reach mutually acceptable compromise solutions, which would satisfy both sides. And I’m very pleased that you and I now search for such compromises, that we understand each other, and that we are moving in the right direction. I would like to thank you for such an attitude. I would like to assure you that our entire team and all of my colleagues will act in the same manner.
