AMN /
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that his visit to Russia will deepen the cooperation between the two nations in the economic, energy and security spheres. In his pre-departure statement, Mr Modi said, India and Russia also want to increase cooperation in science and technology, mining among other sectors.
He said, trade ties between India and Russia can increase even further, to benefit not only the two nations but also the world. The Prime Minister said, he was very optimistic about the outcome of this visit. He said, there will be an interaction with Russian businesspersons to invite them to invest in India and he will also attend a Friends of India programme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left on a two-day visit to Russia to attend 16th Annual Summit meeting. The Summit level meeting will take place tomorrow. The talks between the two countries at the highest level have been taking place alternately in Moscow and New Delhi since 2000. President of Russia Vladimir Putin will host a private dinner this evening for Mr Modi’s after he lands in Moscow. The two leaders will discuss issues of mutual concern there.
Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told media that Prime Minister’s visit to Russia is aimed at further expanding the special and privileged strategic ties with a particular focus on nuclear energy, hydrocarbons, defence and trade.
India is looking at deeper engagement in Russia’s oil and coal sector besides stepping up cooperation in some other areas like diamond trade and agro-business. India, the third largest oil importer after the US and China, has been pushing for greater involvement in major gas and oil exploration projects in Russia. Russia is one of the top oil producers globally and has huge reserves of natural gas.
New Delhi is also expected to push for a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Zone and is sharing details of study it conducted in this regard. Both Mr Modi and Mr Putin will deliberate on enhancing cooperation in defence and nuclear energy spheres. Last week, Defence Ministry’s top acquisition council had cleared the purchase of Russian S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems at an estimated cost of 40 thousand crore rupees.