Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chaired the meeting of the Government’s Presidium

"I believe the country's financial authorities have reacted promptly to the situation in the global economy and taken measures that have definitely proved effective. The situation on the market has stabilised, as you know. In fact, the market has fully rehabilitated."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met in Sochi with representatives of the Russian and French business communities

"I should emphasise that there has been a strong foundation created to foster our business partnership; an effective cooperative structure has been formed; and that commodity turnover is on the rise. Measured at the end of the second half of 2008, the accumulated volume of direct investments from France equalled $1.7 billion. We endorse French investment in the Russian economy."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made a speech at the opening of the 13th head-of-government meeting of the French-Russian Commission for Cooperation

"More and more new French companies that come to the Russian market have long-term investment plans. Alstom, Alcatel, VINCI and many other French companies invest not only in the projects of the Moscow Region, but, as we have just heard at the meeting with businessmen, in many regions of Russian Federation."

The session of the Russian-French Commission for Cooperation resulted in signing a number of documents

Vladimir Putin and Francois Fillon addressed reporters on the results of the 13th head-of-government meeting of the Russian-French Commission for Cooperation

"I would like to tell you that at the end of the meeting we signed a series of documents strengthening the legal basis of our relations. Among them is an agreement on youth exchanges and joint implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, plus a statement on a partnership in education, research, and innovation. We also concluded an agreement on legal aid between the Prosecutor-General's Office of Russia and the Ministry of Justice of France."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin delivered a speech at a plenary session of the 7th International Investment Forum Sochi-2008

"We use market methods to respond to emerging problems. The Government and the Bank of Russia have sufficient reserves to protect the Russian currency and the financial system."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Jean-Claude Killy, Chairman of the IOC Sochi 2014 Coordination Commission

"We have prepared a special computer programme to follow progress on each facility. The programme will also give an overall view of the whole project, enabling us, the International Olympic Committee, and you as its representative to monitor the general picture and particular activities daily and even hourly."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met his Belgian counterpart Yves Leterme in Sochi

"I cannot help but mention that our growing trade has reached $6 billion. I was particularly pleased to see the increasing Belgian investments in the Russian economy. Importantly, some of them are direct."