Meeting with Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong

On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister, Russian Co-Chair of the High-Level Intergovernmental Russia-Singapore Commission Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev, Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev, Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation Igor Chaika, General Director of the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities Dmitry Bakanov, and Chairman of the Delovaya Rossiya National Public Organisation Alexei Repik.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, friends,

First of all, I would like to thank you once again for agreeing to join us here in Kazan for the summit marking the 35^th anniversary of Russia-ASEAN relations - which I believe has been a highly successful and productive gathering. We attach great importance to strengthening our ties with ASEAN member states.

I have fond memories of my visit to Singapore, which, besides bilateral agenda, included my participation in the third Russia - ASEAN Summit, and it was back then that we proclaimed the strategic partnership of Russia and ASEAN. I would like to thank you for the fact that Singapore became the place and the country where this event took place. May I also wish you every success with your forthcoming ASEAN Chairmanship next year.

Our countries cooperate not only within this framework but also across other international platforms, not least the United Nations. Russia-Singapore relations have traditionally been characterised by mutual respect and pragmatism, and we maintain constructive dialogue on issues of shared interest.

Contacts are also maintained between our foreign ministries. We are coordinating our approaches to common challenges and threats, particularly in the field of international information security. This is an area where we have much to offer one another. As I have noted, your country is actively engaged on this front and has shown genuine interest, recognising it as one of the most serious threats facing the modern world.

Considerable potential remains untapped in the economic sphere - in part due to the restrictions currently in place. Nevertheless, channels for business dialogue remain open. The most recent session of the Russia-Singapore Business Dialogue was held in Singapore this past April. We welcome the participation of Singapore's delegation in the 29^th St Petersburg International Economic Forum, and we look forward to seeing your representatives at other multilateral events hosted by Russia - including, incidentally, the Eastern Economic Forum, which we will be holding shortly in Vladivostok.

We also attach great significance to expanding people-to-people ties and deepening cooperation in education and culture.

Today's meeting affords us an excellent opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views on the current state of and future prospects for our bilateral relations.

Let me stress again that we are truly delighted to have you here. I am confident that our discussions - both yesterday's and today's - will make a meaningful contribution to the further development of our bilateral ties.

Thank you.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Lawrence Wong: Thank you very much, President Putin, and once again I would like to thank you and the Government and people of Russia for the warm hospitality extended to me and my delegation for this visit.

This is my first time visiting Russia - personally and in my official capacity - so it is extra meaningful. And I am delighted also that I have this chance, during this visit, to meet with you. We had a very good discussion earlier today at this ASEAN - Russia summit.

Singapore welcomes Russia's strong support for ASEAN centrality and your active engagement with ASEAN. We look forward to working closely with Russia to identify practical areas for cooperation with ASEAN when we take over as Chair of ASEAN next year.

Bilaterally, our two countries - as, Mr President, you highlighted just now - have longstanding relations marked by mutual respect, pragmatism, and constructive cooperation. Singapore values our relations with Russia, with the Government of Russia, and with its people.

I had a very good meeting earlier - just now - with the Rais of Tatarstan and his team. We have very good ties with Tatarstan, we want to continue building on relations we have with other parts of Russia as well. I look forward to this discussion today, Mr President, with you and your team, to consider and identify areas of cooperation where we have shared interests, so that we can take our relationship further.

Thank you very much once again for the warm welcome.