Moldova’s relations with Russia regarding economy, trade and migration have been discussed, today, in Moscow by the presidents of the two countries. Vladimir Putin says Moscow is open to solve extant issues. 

President Igor Dodon has expressed his hope the Russian market is going to be opened soon for all the Moldovan companies. 

Vladimir Putin has said his government will cooperate with all the Moldovan authorities, the Moldovan Government including: "We are aware of the powers of the Moldovan Government and of the President of this country. Some issues are not related to the competence of the head of the state, according to the local legislation. But we’ll cooperate both with the Government and with the President."

According to official statistics, Moldova exported goods worth $220 mn to the Russian market, from January to November last year, what’s 12 % of its total exports.

"I think we are at the very start in our economic and trade relations. At this stage, dozens of companies from Gagauzia and Transnistria export to the Russian market. We hope the list will be enlarged," Igor Dodon stated. Russia imposed trade embargoes on Moldovan goods in the wake of Moldova’s signing the association accord with the EU, back in the summer of 2014.

Putin also referred to issue of the Moldovan migrants working in Russia: "About 50,000 Moldovans may not enter Russia, because of offenses. About 500,000 Moldovans work in Russia. There are no problems here and we’ll figure out how to solve this issue. We realize many Moldovans depend economically on Russia. We want to help them out."

It’s the first official visit abroad of Igor Dodon as a president. He gave Putin a statue representing Tsar Peter I and the Moldavian prince Dimitrie Cantemir. 

Vladimir Putin gave Dodon a chess table, with elements of bronze and gold, and a map of Moldavia dating back to the 18^th century.

The president is accompanied to Moscow by the Gagau governor Irina Vlah and some of his advisors.