New Delhi: At the India-Russia Annual Summit in Delhi yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reviewed regional and global issues, including the post-pandemic global economic recovery and the situation in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Modi said in his opening remarks at the Summit that despite the obstacles created by Covid, the pace of relations between India and Russia has not slowed, and that the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership has been steadily strengthening. He went on to say that the two countries have worked well together in the fight against Covid, whether it's vaccine trials and production, humanitarian aid, or citizen repatriation.
Mr Modi stated that there have been many fundamental changes at the global level in recent decades, as well as a plethora of geopolitical equations. Among all of these variables, he claimed, the relationship between India and Russia has remained steady. He claimed that not only had the two countries worked together without reluctance, but that they had also taken special care of each other's sensibilities. He described it as a one-of-a-kind and dependable model of inter-state friendship.
The Prime Minister stated that the first 2+2 meeting between defence and foreign ministries, which took place earlier yesterday, marks the beginning of a new framework to improve behavioural cooperation. On Afghanistan and other regional challenges, India and Russia have kept in touch on a regular basis. Mr Modi stated that the regional engagement that began with the Eastern Economic Forum and the Vladivostok summit is now evolving into a true partnership between Russia's Far East and Indian states.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement that India is a major power, a friendly nation, and a long-standing friend. He stated that the two countries' relations are improving and that he is optimistic about the future. In the military and technical spheres, he remarked, India and Russia work like no other countries.
India, Russia set AK-203 rifle deal worth ₹5,000 crore
Putin to reach India today, Hold Summit With Narendra Modi
Russian President Putin to discuss these issues with PM Modi in India on December 6