President Vladimir Putin: Dear Mr President, allow me to wish you a warm welcome to Moscow. I remember very well the hospitality you showed us when we were visiting you in Mexico. It gives me pleasure to note that since then our political and business ties have been developing and expanding constantly.
I am also very pleased to note that our countries’ positions very often coincide in our work in international organisations on settling various issues on the current agenda.
We are working on a number of serious economic projects, including in the energy sector. I am pleased to see that Russian liquefied gas will be supplied to facilities on the Mexican coast, with part of the gas then remaining in your country. We also have other projects, including in the machine-building sector.
I am sure that your visit will give yet another positive impetus to developing our business cooperation.
President of Mexico Vicente Fox (translated from Russian): I also wanted to thank you most sincerely, Mr President, for this invitation to visit Russia. This is the first time a Mexican President has visited Russia since the Soviet Union ceased existence. It is also a return visit after your visit to our country last year.
Both our countries have rapidly growing economies, large economies, and this creates a new dynamic for our relations. We are working thoroughly through the process of implementing the agreements concluded during your visit to Mexico. There are also the concrete results that you have mentioned.
At our meeting today we will discuss new projects that will also give a new boost to our relations.
I am very interested in discussing not only important matters such as the energy sector but also other, no less important, issues and problems of a global nature. Soon we will be working together within the United Nations on the issues set by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. We worked together actively in the group known as the group of friends of the UN Secretary-General. This group generated ideas that will now be worked on within the United Nations forum.
We are also interested in discussing the situation in Latin America in general and in various countries in this region. We are very interested to hear your views on this subject.
No less important is the issue of Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation. We build our relations with other countries within the framework provided by the WTO mechanisms, and it is extremely important now that Russia also join this forum.
I am accompanied on this visit by a group of Mexico’s most prominent and influential businesspeople. They see Russia and Moscow as a country and city that offer a great many attractive opportunities. I know they are to meet here with their Russian counterparts and we hope these meetings will be very fruitful.
I was also joined on this visit by our energy minister, economy minister and health minister. They also have a substantial agenda for discussion. The questions they will discuss are all subjects of considerable importance.
I have come here with my wife, Marta. She is with your wife at this moment and I am sure that they also have many matters to discuss.