Russian President visited Kultaranta

President Medvedev and President Halonen at a joint press conference. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

The Baltic Sea played a visible role during President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev's working visit to Finland on 20-21 July 2010. Talks with President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at the Kultaranta summer residence also focused on the environment and climate change, cooperation with neighbouring areas and President Halonen's upcoming state visit to Russia. In addition the Presidents took a boat trip to the island of Seili.

"We spent quite a long time talking about the environment yesterday. This discussion will continue today when we travel together to Seili, which is a centre for field work in Baltic Sea research," President of the Republic Tarja Halonen said at a press conference that was held at Kultaranta on Wednesday, 21 July.

"This morning I had a chance to see for myself what condition this part of the Baltic is in," President Medvedev said, referring to his morning swim. "We have plenty of work to do," he noted.

Successful visit

According to President Halonen the visit was very successful. Basic relations between Finland and Russia are excellent. "The old Finnish saying that a guest must stay the night if he really wants to know his friend once again holds true."

At the press conference, which lasted over an hour, the Presidents answered questions concerning family law, visa-free travel and restrictions on imports of Finnish foods, among other things.

During the two-day visit the Presidents talked in detail about the President of the Republic's upcoming state visit to Russia next November. President Medvedev also told President Halonen about the work being done in the Group of Twenty (G-20).

On Wednesday morning, President Halonen and President Medvedev met with Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi and wished her successful cooperation with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. "We Presidents also wanted to strengthen intergovernmental cooperation," President Halonen said at the press conference.

Russia's modernization

"We have also discussed cooperation in the business sector, and for our part we have been ready to help in areas where problems exist or may arise," President Halonen said. "Of course the most important thing is for companies to have good relations and to be interested in expanding and strengthening cooperation. We think that this is the case."

President Medvedev mentioned the economic crisis, as a result of which trade between Finland and Russia has shrunk. "This year general trends will be reflected in our cooperation. Trade is on the rise," he said.

"In the evening we talked at length about Russia's modernization. I believe that now my Finnish hosts understand better what we are doing," President Medvedev said. He added that the Presidents agreed that modernization should take place in Chekhovian fashion: it involves changing people as well as the economy.

Boat trip to the island of Seili

After the press conference President Halonen, Dr Arajärvi and President Medvedev boarded the Kultaranta VIII for a trip to the island of Seili, where they had a look at the Archipelago Research Institute, which operates under the University of Turku. The director of the institute, Dr Ilppo Vuorinen, gave the guests a better idea of research concerning the Baltic Sea "in the field".

President Medvedev's visit ended on Wednesday, 21 July.

President Medvedev made a state visit to Finland last year. President Halonen in turn visited President Medvedev's summer residence in Sochi in August 2009. 

• Video recording of the press conference at Kultaranta
• 8/12/2009 President Halonen and President Medvedev met in Sochi
• 4/20/2009 President Medvedev visited Finland

Photos