This is the second time External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj will be visiting Russia this year. She earlier took part in the third Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok from September 6-7.External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj will represent India at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Government summit in Russia from November 30 December 1.The summit, to be held in the Russian city of Sochi.Minister Sushma Swaraj's schedule will include bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) summit, and a reception will be hosted by Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev.

India merges the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) as a full member in June 2017. The country attaches special significance to the grouping in promoting political, economic and people-to-people interaction in the region.India's membership was strongly pushed by Russia while Pakistan's entry into the grouping was backed by China.

India had been an observer at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) since 2005. It has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.
In a significant expanding of the India-Russia bilateral relationship, this is the second time that External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj will be visiting the country this year.