Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Meeting with Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov
Dmitry Medvedev: Mr. Massimov, I’m delighted to have the opportunity of sharing information, even ifbriefly, oncurrent Russian-Kazakh cooperation. We meet on a regular basis so there is no lackof communication, but it is nevertheless important to exchange views on both integration within the Eurasian Economic Union and on bilateral issues. Kazakhstan currently holdsthe presidency in the EAEU. I wish you success in this job. But there is also our bilateral agenda that includes economic and trade ties. Our economies are going through a difficult period. Trade is falling, but luckily these figures are fairly insignificant in materialterms, as we have agreed. The numbers are mostly the result of currency rate recalculations and the dynamics of energy prices. There are also investment projects that are always up for discussion. I’d like to discuss them with you today.
Karim Massimov: Thank you very much, Mr. Medvedev.I appreciate this opportunity to meet with you. We have had regular meetings this year. I’d also like to say that President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayevsends his regards. You met with him recently, didn’t you?
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you. Yes, we met on Victory Day.
Karim Massimov: Yes, on Victory Day in Red Square. And then you and I had a telephone conversation. I’ve been instructed by the President to organise an economic forum as part of his visit and participation in the St. Petersburg Economic Forum in mid-June. It’s been some timesince we had meetings in this type offormat at the presidential level and involving business leaders. I think it’s a great opportunity. It will help strengthen both the Eurasian Economic Union and our bilateral relations. I think it’s a good opportunity and I’d like to discuss some of the aspects of it today.
Dmitry Medvedev: We will help organise this event.
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