Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Mintimer Shaimiev: I would like to thank you for finding the time to meet with us during this crisis year. When we meet, we find solutions and implement them, which diminishes our losses. This is important because we have a vast population.

Vladimir Putin: Absolutely.

Mintimer Shaimiev: And we have a huge industrial area here. You have visited our petrochemical plants more than once. We have Yelabuga, a free economic zone, on the other bank. And KAMAZ...

Vladimir Putin: Mr Shaimiev, we need the support of the republic's leadership in implementing these projects. I hope that the government and the Presidential Executive Office will focus their attention on that and that they will render administrative support. If need be, they could even visit you...

Mintimer Shaimiev: We are all involved in the same job. It is incredibly important. At one time people from all over the country came here with hope. Now the second and third generations live here.

Naberezhnye Chelny is a city of machine builders. What would have happened without the decisions you had made in this city?

Vladimir Putin: We must pool federal and regional efforts here.

Mintimer Shaimiev: Absolutely.