Putin Hails Modi’s Role in Boosting India-Russia Ties
Russian President looks forward to meeting Modi as trade and strategic cooperation expand
New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for personally steering India-Russia relations and said he looked forward to meeting him at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek.
Putin made the remarks during a meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Moscow. Jaishankar conveyed Modi's greetings and handed Putin a personal communication from the Prime Minister.
"Prime Minister Modi looks forward to meeting you at the SCO Summit, then welcoming you to India for the BRICS Summit and, in due course, as per your mutual convenience, having the annual summit," Jaishankar told Putin.
The SCO Summit will be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31 and September 1. The BRICS Summit in New Delhi is scheduled less than three weeks later.
Responding to Jaishankar, Putin said: "I hope to see him soon, as we planned, within the framework of the SCO, very soon. Our schedule is such that we will probably be able to meet again this year."
Putin credited Modi's personal attention with helping expand economic engagement between the two countries.
"I'm pleased to note that our trade turnover has increased this year. While it declined slightly last year, it's growing this year, and this is partly, and perhaps primarily, thanks to Prime Minister Modi, who is devoting his personal attention to developing Russian-Indian relations," Russian media quoted Putin as saying.
Putin said cooperation between India and Russia was expanding across almost all sectors, including nuclear energy and high technology. He also offered to increase fertiliser supplies to meet the requirements of India's agricultural sector.
"We are doing everything to close this issue for Indian farmers and agriculture. We are increasing these supplies and are ready to do this further," he said.
Jaishankar briefed Putin on Monday's meeting of the 27th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation. The meeting was co-chaired by Jaishankar and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
The external affairs minister said the talks had produced a "good report" covering trade, energy, fertilisers, nuclear cooperation and other areas.
"Our economic cooperation has grown very significantly," Jaishankar said, adding that the two countries had a "very strong picture of cooperation" to present.
Putin said the high-level exchanges reflected the strength of India-Russia relations developed over several decades. He said the countries continued to engage through governmental, parliamentary and economic channels.
Jaishankar also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his two-day visit to Moscow, which concluded on Monday.
