Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: I am very glad to see you, Mr Koizumi.
Our earlier meetings have been very productive, in Russia, Japan and other countries. I would like to say now that our efforts have certainly not been in vain, as goods turnover keeps growing between our two countries, and more companies wholly owned by Japanese capital, or with Japanese stakes, are being established in Russia.
The total Japanese investment in Russia's economy has reached $4 billion. Large joint projects are being implemented, many of them in the energy sector. This is especially important for both Russia and Japan in the face of the current world financial and economic crisis.
The contacts we have established, largely through your own efforts, will be a solid foundation for further development of our relations. I am very pleased to see you here.
As you know, Russia is hosting an important international economic event this June, the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. On behalf of the Russian Government I would like to invite you to participate in it.
Junichiro Koizumi (as translated): St Petersburg is a very beautiful city, which is another reason why I will look forward to the trip.
I am also very happy to meet with you again. As you said, you and I have drafted a strategic plan while you were President and I was Prime Minister. Our relations have been developing on its basis since; as you have said, trade turnover between Russia and Japan has indeed been on the rise.
I remember attending the G8 summit held in Russia. Now I am being invited to the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in June. I am happy to accept the invitation.
As far as I am concerned, I have already stepped down as Prime Minister, which has certainly made my life easier. But you are holding a very important post. I have been following your achievements in the media.
I remember in 2005, when I was attending the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, Russia used chemicals to dispel rain clouds above Moscow, didn't you? Is Russia developing such technologies now?
Vladimir Putin: Russian developers are working on many different technologies. Cloud seeding isn't a very complicated one these days. And, fortunately, the weather has been good in Moscow anyway.
As to technologies, there are things we could discuss together. There are plans to sign a series of documents during this visit, some of them on nuclear cooperation. We are also cooperating in space exploration, and there are encouraging prospects in nanotechnologies. There are novel opportunities of using high technologies in energy, even in the traditional oil and gas industry.