Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on December 5. President Putin is on a two-day visit to India, his first in four years.
It is Putin’s first visit to India since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. Putin last visited in December 2021 for an annual summit.
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After 23rd Annual India-Russia SummitPM Modi said India’s priority is to increase economic cooperation with Russia. The two leaders also unveiled the Vision 2030 document, a long-term plan designed to strengthen economic engagement and expand cooperation in trade, investment and technology.
“We have agreed on an agenda for economic cooperation till 2030,” Prime Minister Modi said in a joint statement issued after the summit.
Here is what PM Modi had to say after the summit
PM Modi said that in the last 8 decades the world has witnessed many ups and downs. “Mankind has had to go through many challenges and crises. And amidst all this, the India-Russia friendship has remained as strong as the North Star,” he said, adding that India and Russia are working towards an early conclusion of a free trade agreement with Eurasian Economic Union.
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PM Modi also referred to the Russo-Ukraine war and said that India has been pushing for peace on this issue from the very beginning. “We welcome all efforts for a peaceful and lasting solution to this matter. India has always been ready to do its part and will remain so in the future,” he said.
Energy security is a strong and important pillar of India-Russia partnership, the Prime Minister said. Our decades-long cooperation in civil nuclear power has been essential to realizing our shared clean energy priorities, the Prime Minister said.
“We will continue this mutually beneficial cooperation. Our collaboration in critical minerals is critical to ensuring secure and diversified supply chains around the world. This will provide strong support to our partnership in clean energy, high-tech manufacturing and new-age industry.”
“Our deep collaboration in shipbuilding has the potential to strengthen Make in India. This is another excellent example of our mutually beneficial collaboration that will strengthen jobs, skills and regional connectivity.”
15 years ago, in 2010, our partnership received the status of a A special privileged strategic partnershipPrime Minister Modi recalled. Over the past two and a half decades, he (President Putin) has nurtured this relationship with his leadership and vision, he said. “His leadership under all circumstances has elevated our ties to new heights. I express my sincere gratitude to President Putin, my friend, for this deep friendship and unwavering commitment to India.”
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PM Modi said that India and Russia have long stood side by side in the fight against terrorism. “Whether it is the terror attack in Pahalgam or the cowardly attack on the Crocus Town Hall, the root of all these incidents is the same. India’s unwavering belief is that terrorism is a direct attack on human values and that global unity against it is our greatest strength,” he said.
PM Modi also said that India and Russia are working closely together in various international forums including UN, G20, BRICS and SCO. “We will continue to engage in dialogue and cooperation in all these forums.”
E-visa for Russian tourists
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India will issue E-visa for Russian tourists which will be processed within 30 days. “I am happy that we will soon launch e-tourist visa and group tourist visa services for Russian citizens. It will be processed within 30 days and it will be free,”
What did President Putin say?
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Indian President Droupadi Murma, Prime Minister of India and all our Indian colleagues for the warm and hospitable welcome extended to the Russian delegation. “I thank PM Modi for dinner at his residence yesterday,” he said.
“We stand ready to continue providing uninterrupted fuel to India’s growing economy…”
Putin said that Russia is working with Indian partners to build new international transport routes, including a project to create a north-south transport from Russia or Belarus to the coast of the Indian Ocean.
“We are also working on a project to build India’s largest nuclear power plant. Three of the six reactors have already been connected to the power grid,” Putin said.
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“As I see it, we are faced with the task of bringing this number to the level of 100 billion dollars. The Prime Minister has given us a whole list of challenges that deserve the most careful focus of our government. We will do it. Growth Russian Indian commercial links the creation of a free trade zone between India and the Eurasian Economic Union would help. We are already working on a corresponding agreement,” he said, adding that both countries are gradually moving towards using national currencies for settlement of payments.
Key things
- India and Russia reaffirm their partnership to fight terrorism and address global challenges.
- Energy security and economic cooperation are central to India-Russia relations, with plans for a new 2030 economic cooperation agenda.
- The longstanding friendship between India and Russia is highlighted as a stabilizing factor in international relations.
