President Almazbek Atambayev during his working visit to St. Petersburg met with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, on November 17.

«I remember that in 2012 your first foreign visit as head of the state of Kyrgyzstan was to Russia. Now you are completing your activities as a president, and I think that this is also one of your final visits — and it is again in the Russian Federation. So it turned out, not intentionally, but...,» Kremlin press service quotes Vladimir Putin.

«Symbolic! — Almazbek Atambayev said. — In fact, you have correctly noticed, I also thought, it was symbolic that my first visit and the final visit as the president of Kyrgyzstan — to Russia.»

«I am very pleased to note that during the time of your work as head of state in Kyrgyzstan, the quality of relations between Russia and Kyrgyzstan has changed significantly. Kyrgyzstan became a member of our economic association. We have, on a bilateral level, promoted our relations in the economic and security spheres, referring to the strengthening of external borders, and in the humanitarian sphere. I am particularly pleased that you accepted the invitation and came to the cultural forum,» Vladimir Putin said.

According to the press service of the President of Kyrgyzstan, Vladimir Putin assured Almazbek Atambayev of deepening humanitarian cooperation and supporting initiatives aimed at further studying the Altai civilization.

«I know you have a lot of ideas from the point of view of strengthening, developing what was developed in the past decades or even, perhaps, centuries between our peoples. You have good initiatives in this area, which we have already supported and intend to support in the future. It seems to me very important to emphasize the deep roots of relations between our peoples. We have already talked about this. The first major event you have already held in Kyrgyzstan. We are ready to provide the Russian platform,» Vladimir Putin said.

Almazbek Atambayev expressed his satisfaction with the level of development of relations between the two countries, connected with the centuries-old history.

«This year we held the Altai forum, which was attended by representatives of about 30 countries. Moreover, we agreed to hold the World Altai Congress in Kyrgyzstan. Of course, we must remember history. Because the people who forget the road that has passed, will not find the way to the future. I would like the level that has developed between Kyrgyzstan and Russia to remain forever,» Almazbek Atambayev said.

It should be noted that the VI St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum opened yesteraday.

«I am very happy to see Leningrad, but on a cultural forum — I, as a fan of the author’s song, would like to say that last year the Nobel Prize in Literature, it was actually given to Bob Dylan. This is actually the author of the song, and, in my opinion, the best bards have always been in Russia. Suddenly, the future Nobel Prize winner will come from Russia...» Atambayev said at a meeting with Putin.

«We will consult,» — the head of Russia said.