Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Esteemed Mr Rasmussen, colleagues,

I am very glad to see you. I remember your last visit to Moscow, and I feel that this visit has given an impetus to our relations.

We share many interests. I have reviewed all aspects of our economic relations, and I see that Danish companies' interest in working in Russia is not subsiding. This interest is sufficiently diversified, and concerns food, construction and engineering industries, including the manufacture of household appliances.

As we have said in Moscow, it is worthwhile to think about creating tools and agencies to allow businesspeople, Danish businesspeople in this instance, to gain a better insight into what is going on in Russia, and start closer direct contacts with the Russian government and their business partners in our country.

I think we will have an opportunity to discuss all this today. I am very glad to see you.

Lars Rasmussen (as translated): I am also glad to see you. I am glad that we have this opportunity to see each other again after our meeting in Moscow on November 2, which was particularly important in the run-up to the Copenhagen Climate Conference. I would like to thank you personally and other Russian colleagues for an extremely constructive contribution to these talks, which turned out to be so difficult.

We have not achieved the goals we desired but we have made considerable progress along this road due to Russia's positive contribution.

As for bilateral relations, I am glad to say that our cooperation with Russia has continued to develop despite the economic crisis.

Many Danish companies have made considerable investments in Russia, and I know they are interested in investing more. I am glad of this opportunity to discuss with you ways to create a new and more efficient structure to promote our business partnership. The Russian president will visit Denmark soon, and I hope we will be able then to organise a Danish-Russian business forum.