The Russian head of state expressed hopes for further development of bilateral relations.
President Putin said that Russia and Finland shared common interests. Thanks to a policy aimed at building a foundation for neighbourly and economically beneficial relations, the two countries had solved a number of economic and social problems. This has become particularly evident since Finland’s entry into the European Union, stressed the Russian leader.
For her part, the speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Riitta Uosukainen, indicated that while working in St Petersburg, Mr Putin had made a significant contribution to the development of bilateral relations, especially between the border regions. The speaker described cooperation between Russia and the European Union as a prerequisite for achieving stability, security and prosperity on the European continent.