Transcript:

Dmitry Medvedev: Mr Ryder, colleagues, I am glad to be able to meet with you. To begin with, I'd like to congratulate you, Mr Ryder, on your election as the Director General of the International Labour Organisation. I wish you great success in this important and difficult job.

Russia has always been and will remain an active participant in ILO events. We consider ILO's work very useful, we take part in its programmes and we have ratified a large number of ILO conventions, although the efforts to modernise our legislation are not over yet and we will continue to do this with due regard for the priorities set by the ILO. There are several crucial aspects of our cooperation that I'd like to discuss with you. The colleagues who are responsible for each part of this work are here at our meeting today. So welcome once again and I wish you every success.

Guy Ryder (via interpreter): Thank you, Mr Prime Minister. I am honoured to be here in Moscow. Thank you for this opportunity for us to exchange our points of view. The International Labour Organisation has solid relations with the Russian Federation, and our meeting today is a good opportunity to exchange views and further strengthen our relations.

I am glad to be in Moscow so soon after my election as the ILO Director General. And I am glad that Moscow will host a high-level international conference on decent work.

We will be able to talk with our friends, members of the Russian Government and representatives of trade unions, since Russia is now taking over the G20 presidency. Therefore, this is a good opportunity to exchange opinions and I am very glad for it.

Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you.

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