Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Dmitry Medvedev meets with Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha
Prayut Chan-o-cha (via interpreter): Your Excellency, it gives me great pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister of Russia to Thailand. Thank you for accepting the invitation of our Government and our people to pay an official visit to Thailand.
As you know, Russia and Thailand will mark the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations two years from now, in 2017. I hope that we will organise a number of events and implement projects to celebrate this date.
With regard to our economic ties, we are working towards expanding bilateral trade for the benefit of both nations. <…>
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you very much, Mr Prime Minister. Indeed, this is the first visit by a Russian Prime Minister to your country in recent history. It was preceded by only one visit at a similar level during the Soviet period.
We are planning to upgrade our relations, and, to my mind, now is the right time for doing this.
This is my first visit to Thailand, but, as you have aptly noted, our diplomatic relations were established 118 years ago, and we have high hopes for their bright future.
I would like to wish your Government every success in implementing your programme of reforms.
<…>
