Vladimir Putin: Good evening, Mr Voronin.

I would like to start by complimenting the host party on its unprecedented tactics. You first took us to the Cricova wine cellars, and only later to the Government House - the best way to achieve your ends.

Vladimir Voronin: That's our old trick.

Vladimir Putin: All joking aside, I must say that our experts are well prepared for the meeting. Generally, we and our Moldovan colleagues have quickly and efficiently come to mutually acceptable decisions of late in the key points of our partnership - energy, trade and agriculture. Certain issues still demand more detailed analyses, but they all can be settled.

Progress has been made on the energy issue which you have posed many times - on hydrocarbon material, our joint venture, and electricity. Progress was reported to us just now.

As for agriculture, Moldovan wine exports to Russia are ongoing. A mere 25 out of 34 authorised exporter companies are presently supplying wine to Russia, so you have ample room for expansion and we expect more wine shipments.

Vladimir Voronin: Thank you, Mr Putin.

It is a great honour to receive you and host a summit of the CIS heads of government. It is good training, as Moldova will preside over the CIS next year in an unprecedented arrangement - in all of its agencies. Thus, today's summit, its preparation, and the essential documents we approved today are all of tremendous importance for us so that we can lead the CIS no worse than the previous chair country, or even better.

I fully agree with you that our relations are making good progress, and have considerable potential, as always. For instance, we have a large amount of animal products to offer for export. We can also offer vegetable products and other commodities to the Russian market, so our trade is dynamically developing.

I, too, approve the work of our Intergovernmental Commission, headed by Andrei Fursenko and our First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Dodon. They are working very constructively. What I like about their work most is that they don't ask us for help - they have learned to make decisions and do not add to our stress.