Mr Minister, colleagues,

We are delighted to welcome you to Moscow and to have regular in-person talks, which is a rare commodity these days. It makes this opportunity even more valuable.

We have good long-standing relations based on friendship and cooperation. Today, we hope to see how we can put the existing potential to good use in the current circumstances.

A lot is being done. We are satisfied with the current status of cooperation, but our countries have a much greater potential. I hope your visit will help tap it in full.

Today, in addition to the bilateral agenda, it is important to exchange views about the state of affairs in the international arena, especially since processes underway in the world, including at international organisations and in various regions are not too optimistic. It is important for us to hear your assessments of how South America is planning to overcome the emerging challenges and to interact at multilateral organisations.

Welcome. I look forward to productive talks.