The transcript of the start of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: I would like to discuss with you in a tentative way the anti-crisis plan which we have submitted to the State Duma. You know that we have published it, we have put it in the public domain. Discussion is in fact already going on in all the regions, among non-governmental organisations, political organisations, business associations and the trade unions - as you know, I have had a meeting with them. I continue these contacts and will continue them.

Your party is known to have your own views that often differ from what the Government proposes to solve a problem. Even so, I think that in present-day conditions we could find some common ground.

Gennady Zyuganov: I have read it attentively on the government website, and we have circulated it among our experts. We are holding a meeting today with the leaders of all our regional organisations, and tomorrow a plenary meeting will discuss the country's performance in the context of the world financial and economic crisis.

Earlier we held a series of meetings and consultations with economists and experts in various fields. A round table was held in the State Duma, in which 300 people took part, representatives of all the regions and all the legislatures. We have prepared a progamme that sets forth our vision of the crisis and the possible measures.

I think I should tell you that I have sent my experts to China to take a close look at their measures. I must say that they merit attention, they need to be looked at carefully. Also, everything the Americans have done recently and what they will be bringing to London.

We have summed it all up and have prepared a concise, short programme. Your programme is more extended and wide-ranging. I think our programme will be of interest to you. The Plenum will approve it tomorrow, our members will attend and we will be glad to present the programme to you, and we will mail it to the ministers and the heads of regional organisations.

It has to be said that the situation is complicated and very alarming. I have held 50 meetings in the regions. Single-company cities give particular cause for concern. We have over a hundred such cities which have one or two enterprises. If production is halted there, not a single family member will have a job.

Vladimir Putin: There are several hundred of them, actually, 490.

Gennady Zyuganov: Yes. On the other hand, your programme has a part devoted to the real sector of the economy. I think it is an exceedingly important task, everything must be done to make sure that the large amounts of funding reach those who work in the fields, at construction sites-especially at construction sites. I think if we joined efforts now the projects slated for launching this year would start working. They alone can consume up to a third of the metal, a vast amount of cement and tiles. Current production would become more vigorous and interesting.

I would like to draw your attention to the rural areas. Last year there was a good harvest. But out of the 20 million tons grown less than 8 million tons has been procured. I am afraid that the grain will be lost and that will push prices up. On the other hand, the sowing season is starting and that raises the problem of diesel fuel. The prices of all the materials are going up again. I think we need a tough approach and a strong will. Otherwise I am afraid that agriculture will let us down.

Before we know it, we will find ourselves importing half of our food. The situation will grow more complicated. Otherwise, we are ready for discussion. Will you be at the State Duma on April 6?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, of course.

Gennady Zyuganov: I see. When United Russia is at a loss about what to do you should prod them on.

Vladimir Putin: Why?

Gennady Zyuganov: Well, they seem to have lost a sense of direction. They are not working hard enough to implement your measures. If I were in their place I would monitor more closely how they are fulfilling all the instructions.

Vladimir Putin: It is down to the party's leaders in Parliament to take a closer look. Having said that, you know, we have also had meetings and we plan to meet again soon in a broader format, so we are going to discuss all the proposed measures in more detail. Going back to what you have said, the grain procurement target we set was 10 million tons. I don't know if they have procured it or not.

Gennady Zyuganov: No, the figure was 7.2, or close to eight million.

Vladimir Putin: As for fuel and lubricants, you are absolutely right there. But they reported to me the other day that farmers and oilmen have agreed prices for the sowing period.

Gennady Zyuganov: They have gone down. Now about students. We have discussed this with the President. We have 2.8 million students who pay for their education and training, and 800,000 can no longer afford to pay their fees. They have already paid for 2-3 years. They should not be expelled, we should help them. Otherwise we may lose specialists and secondly, we will face a difficult situation. All those who have studied at secondary schools, universities and vocational secondary schools will be in a difficult situation.

Vladimir Putin: You know, President Medvedev spoke at the Congress of University Rectors and he voiced some proposals.

Gennady Zyuganov: We had a detailed discussion with him and he has responded. But I would go further because the school teams and student teams are performing brilliantly - we formed 100 such work teams last year. It is a good way to keep them busy. I would also expand postgraduate studies, and hand down quotas to enterprises for employing young people and graduate specialists, otherwise they may move abroad or, God forbid, land in jail.

Vladimir Putin: These are precisely the measures stipulated in the anti-crisis plan.

Gennady Zyuganov: Yes, I have noted it.

Vladimir Putin: We are going to increase the number of places in post-graduate programmes, increase the number of places that are free of charge, and have fixed prices for those who pay fees. In short, all these measures are in the plan. We may discuss your proposals, if you feel that it will be useful, at least in general terms.

Gennady Zyuganov: Student loans are issued at 11,5%. Mr Kudrin, as always, jacked it up for students, while claiming in the same breath that inflation will be at 7%. The student will see the price of the loan grow by 1.7 times during the five years of study. So, I would not frighten the young people, or else they will find themselves in debt twice: They will have to pay the arrears and they will have to pay Mr Kudrin for the loan at double the rate.

Vladimir Putin: We have proposals on that score: We need to cut the cost for those who pay fees and increase the number of places that are free of charge.

Gennady Zyuganov: Especially for those who have good marks - God knows they deserve it.