Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Mr Balkenende, I am glad to see you today. Russian-Dutch trade and economic relations are developing very successfully. Bilateral trade reached a record of $62 billion last year, and reinvestment reached $45 billion. Direct Dutch investment into the Russian economy stood at over $30 billion.
Our joint plan of action will expire soon, and it is high time to lay the foundations for our cooperation over the next several years.
Jan Peter Balkenende (as translated): Mr Putin, I am very glad to see you again today as I warmly recollect your visit to the Netherlands in 2005 and my visit to Moscow in 2007.
I am happy that our trade, economic and other contacts are making
progress and both countries are determined to develop them further. We
have launched many lucrative joint ventures-the Sakhalin and Yamal
projects, to name just a few.
Russian-Dutch relations are developing outside the economic sphere as
well. St Petersburg is a wonderful city. We are delighted to have its
oasis in Amsterdam now-a branch of the Hermitage Museum, which opened
in June. So, you can see that cultural relations are also making
progress.