Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Matti Vanhanen (as translated): Mr Prime Minister, I am happy to welcome you in Finland.
Our meeting is taking place in extraordinary circumstances, when the global crisis is taking effect throughout the world, including in our countries. During such a crisis, we should search for more embracing solutions, because our countries are not to blame for it. Of course, bilateral relations help to find a way out of such situations.
Contacts between Russia and Finland are very close at the top level. Our presidents met in April. This year we will mark a jubilee event: the year 1809 reminds our people about the deep ties between our countries.
Today we will discuss issues closely connected with the economy, transport, the Baltic Sea, and the timber industry.
It is the first time that the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Russian-Finnish Commission on Economic Cooperation are attending this closed meeting. This gives us a chance to issue prompt instructions and in general to keep them in the know. I think this could become the beginning of a lasting tradition.
I am happy to welcome you in Finland. We have a full agenda today.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, thank you for inviting me to your country and for this opportunity to discuss bilateral relations, above all in the economy.
Indeed, the situation in the global economy is far from simple, and we feel the effects of the crisis in our countries. However, I would like to say that our cooperation is a factor that helps us to stand up at the time of trial. Look at our energy cooperation: Russian partners provide everything the Finnish economy needs regularly, on time and in the required amount. I am referring to oil, gas, coal, electricity and chemicals.
During your visit to Moscow, we agreed on the issues related to the timber industry and woodworking. Acting at your request, the Russian Government reviewed its decision on the import customs duties on rough timber in order to support our Finnish colleagues and friends during the crisis.
We are developing relations in the field of high technology, especially communications, and we have also made a good start in other spheres.
Thank you again for inviting me here. I sincerely hope that our talks today will be fruitful and will help us to promote relations even in the current conditions, for which we are not to blame.
Moreover, the crisis may even help us to resolve complicated issues. I am referring to the movement of goods across state borders. You and I have discussed this matter many times.
I hope that at our meetings now we will also address similar issues.
Thank you.