Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Dmitry Medvedev with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi
Dmitry Medvedev: Mr Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to cordially welcome you to Moscow. This is your first visit to Russia.
Today, we are witnessing one of the most complicated periods in the history of Russian-European cooperation. This makes your visit even more important. Russian-Italian ties have traditionally been very advanced. I hope that we’ll be able to discuss foreign policy issues (that you’ll also discuss with President Vladimir Putin) during this visit and our ongoing bilateral relations. I am happy to say that trade and economic relations will also be discussed. But of course the overall situation in Russian-European cooperation influences these relations.
Therefore I suggest discussing these issues, and I would like to once again express hope that your visit will be most successful.
Matteo Renzi (via interpreter): Mr Prime Minister, I would like to cordially thank you for this warm reception. Indeed, we are happy to be here in Russia and to discuss the issues in our relations for 2015.
I have been told that Russia is focusing on the EXPO-2015 exhibition, due to open in Milan in May. We’re expecting many visitors from Russia because this is an extremely interesting event. To the best of my knowledge, the date for Russia Day at the exhibition has already been set. I believe that, despite the rather complicated international situation, our relations will continue. And we will discuss these issues with great interest and most willingly. Thank you.
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