Russian-Malagasy talks

The agenda focused on the current state and future prospects for Russian-Malagasy cooperation across a range of sectors, as well as several international and regional issues of current importance.

Representing the Russian side, the talks were also attended by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Lavrov SergeiMinister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation , Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak Novak AlexanderDeputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation , Deputy Chief of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin Oreshkin MaximDeputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office , Defence Minister Andrei Belousov Belousov AndreiDefence Minister of the Russian Federation , Finance Minister Anton Siluanov Siluanov AntonMinister of Finance of the Russian Federation , Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina Nabiullina ElviraGovernor of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia) , Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces - Deputy Chief of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff Andrei Averyanov.

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Beginning of Russian-Malagasy talks

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends,

It is a genuine pleasure to welcome you to Russia.

Next year will mark the 55^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries (I believe they were established in 1972). Our ties have always been steady, and I can say with confidence that today Madagascar is a key partner for Russia in Africa.

Mr President, before we proceed, I would like to begin by expressing our deepest condolences in connection with the two recent cyclones, which affected more than 270,000 people and claimed over 40 lives. For our part, Russia is doing everything it can to provide humanitarian assistance to your people and your country.

We have seen, and it is clear to all, that your government is taking significant steps to improve the situation across the country. There are good prospects for further strengthening our bilateral ties in the political sphere. We were very pleased to welcome a high-level delegation from Madagascar to Russia recently.

I hope that today we will have the opportunity to discuss all matters of mutual interest.

I would like to emphasise that we have many promising areas for cooperation, including agriculture, geological exploration, energy, medicine, healthcare, and education. Your young people are studying at Russian universities, and many have already completed their higher education here, earning strong qualifications.

We are willing to further expand our partnership in the cultural and humanitarian spheres and to continue working together on international platforms, above all within the framework of the United Nations.

Mr President, we are very pleased to welcome you to Moscow.

President for the Re-Foundation of the Republic of Madagascar Michael Randrianirina (retranslated): First of all, I would like to thank you for your invitation to visit the Russian Federation. It is a great country, and during this challenging period for Madagascar - particularly following the cyclones you mentioned - we hope we can count on your support.

We are pleased to be here and reaffirm our strong commitment to strengthening relations with the Russian Federation across all the areas you highlighted: social development, healthcare, education, energy, hydrocarbons, infrastructure, and, of course, military cooperation. We are ready to work closely with you, remain open to expanded collaboration, and move our partnership to a new level. Our countries have cooperated for 55 years, and today we stand prepared to build new partnerships with the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

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