Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon,
Allow me once again to cordially welcome you to the Russian capital, Moscow. We all hope that the Moscow meeting will mark another important step in developing and strengthening our interaction. Our ability to cooperate and remove barriers that hinder business activities goes a long way in determining the wellbeing and progress in the vast Eurasian expanse.
During the past year we have accumulated what is in many ways unique experience of cooperation in the economic and the humanitarian spheres. EurAsEC, without exaggeration, is gradually emerging as the engine of integration processes. It is not by chance that there is growing interest in the experience of our interaction and the experience of our organisation on the part of our partners and other states.
I am glad to note that the President of the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, is attending our meeting for the first time, and I would like to welcome him on your behalf.
Our chairman, the President of Kazakhstan, has just had a conversation with another colleague, the President of Ukraine, which, like Moldova, has demonstrated a desire to expand its cooperation with EurAsEC and, as the first step, take part in the work of our organisation as an observer.
Once again, I welcome you all to Moscow.