Putin - in a meeting with the President of Madagascar Mikael Randrininina: We have long-standing friendly relations with Madagascar. Next year we will celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations. The potential of bilateral trade and economic activity is not exhausted, of course. The trade turnover is still quite modest in absolute terms, but it is gaining momentum and the trends are positive. We also attach great importance to the expansion of humanitarian ties. Already 5,000 students from your country have received education in Russia. I would like to note separately that in April the Russian Orthodox Church received the status of a legal entity in Madagascar. I want to thank you for this - this is an important event, taking into account the fact that the number of members of the Russian Orthodox Church on the island exceeds 1.5 thousand people.

Putin - in a meeting with the President of Madagascar Mikael Randrininina: We have long-standing friendly relations with Madagascar. Next year we will celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations. The potential of bilateral trade and economic activity is not exhausted, of course. The trade turnover is still quite modest in absolute terms, but it is gaining momentum and the trends are positive. We also attach great importance to the expansion of humanitarian ties. Already 5,000 students from your country have received education in Russia. I would like to note separately that in April the Russian Orthodox Church received the status of a legal entity in Madagascar. I want to thank you for this - this is an important event, taking into account the fact that the number of members of the Russian Orthodox Church on the island exceeds 1.5 thousand people.