Talks with Austrian President Heinz Fischer and in the presence of the two countries’ delegations focused on the prospects for Russian-EU cooperation following the recent Russia-EU summit in Samara, and on deepening Russian-Austrian cooperation, first and foremost economic cooperation.
The participants paid increased attention to economic and investment cooperation between Russia and Austria as well as the implementation of promising joint projects in energy, machine building, metallurgy and transportation.
They also discussed developing relations between Austria and various Russian regions, cooperation in the banking sector and in infrastructure projects.
They also mentioned the past results and future prospects for cooperation in the cultural and educational spheres, including within the Year of Russian Language that is being held this year in Austria.
The problem of relocating assets was among the topics of discussion.
The parties exchanged opinions on a number of topical problems concerning European and global security, and on the settlement of regional conflicts.
Following the talks Vladimir Putin and Heinz Fischer gave a joint press conference. The transcript of the press conference will be published.
After the talks and the press conference Vladimir Putin and his wife, Lyudmila Putin, accompanied Austrian President Heinz Fischer and his wife, Margit Fischer, to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The school was founded in 1572 for the classical dressage of horses and so that members of the Imperial family could learn to ride horses. The school is called the Spanish Riding School because the horses were originally brought from Spain. The Spanish Riding School was opened to the public following World War One and has become increasingly popular.