New Delhi, India, seeks to play a supporting role for a peaceful and stable region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he embarked on a high-profile two-day visit to Russia in his first trip to that country since the start of the Moscow presidency. invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will tonight host a private dinner for the Indian Prime Minister ahead of Tuesday's talks at the 22nd India-Russia summit in Moscow.
This is Modi's first trip to Russia since 2019, the first after the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, and also the first bilateral visit abroad in his third term as prime minister. After concluding his engagements in Russia on the 9th In July, Modi will leave for Austria in the first visit by an Indian prime minister to that country in more than 40 years.
The Modi-Putin summit talks are expected to focus on further boosting bilateral cooperation in trade, energy and defence. The Ukraine conflict will surely figure in the discussions.
"The special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia has advanced in the last 10 years, including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges," Modi said. in his exit statement. "I look forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues," he said.
"We seek to play a role in supporting a peaceful and stable region," he said without making specific references.
New Delhi has been firmly upholding its "special and privileged strategic partnership" with Russia and maintained momentum in ties despite the Ukraine conflict. India is yet to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine and has consistently advocated for resolution of the conflict. through dialogue and diplomacy.
The prime minister said the visit will also give him an opportunity to meet the vibrant Indian community in Russia.
In a post on 'X', Modi said, "For the next three days, we will be in Russia and Austria. These visits will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen ties with these nations, with whom India has tested friendship." During his trip to Austria on July 9-10, the Prime Minister described the country as a "firm and reliable partner" of India.
"In Austria I will have the opportunity to meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Karl Nehammer," Modi said.
"Austria is our firm and reliable partner and we share the ideals of democracy and pluralism." "This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in more than 40 years. I look forward to my talks to take our partnership to even greater levels in areas new and emerging innovation, technology and sustainable development, among others," he said.
Modi said he looked forward to exchanging views with business leaders from both sides to explore mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities.
"I will also be interacting with the Indian community in Austria, which enjoys a good reputation for professionalism and conduct," he said. Ahead of Modi's visit to Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the agenda will be "extensive." .
"Obviously the agenda will be extensive, not to say overloaded. It will be an official visit and we hope that the heads of government will also be able to talk informally," he said.
At the talks, Modi is expected to urge Russia to end the recruitment of Indians as support personnel for the Russian army and ensure the return home of those still operating in the force. The annual summit between the PM India and the President of Russia is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The annual summits are held alternately in India and Russia.
The last summit was held on December 6, 2021 in New Delhi. President Putin had visited India to attend the summit. At the summit, both sides sealed 28 memorandums of understanding and agreements, besides issuing a joint statement titled "India-Russia Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity".
Prime Minister Modi and President Putin last held bilateral talks on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022.
At the meeting, Modi had pressured Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine saying, "The current era is not one of war." Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Modi has held several telephone conversations with Putin and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will tonight host a private dinner for the Indian Prime Minister ahead of Tuesday's talks at the 22nd India-Russia summit in Moscow.
This is Modi's first trip to Russia since 2019, the first after the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, and also the first bilateral visit abroad in his third term as prime minister. After concluding his engagements in Russia on the 9th In July, Modi will leave for Austria in the first visit by an Indian prime minister to that country in more than 40 years.
The Modi-Putin summit talks are expected to focus on further boosting bilateral cooperation in trade, energy and defence. The Ukraine conflict will surely figure in the discussions.
"The special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia has advanced in the last 10 years, including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges," Modi said. in his exit statement. "I look forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues," he said.
"We seek to play a role in supporting a peaceful and stable region," he said without making specific references.
New Delhi has been firmly upholding its "special and privileged strategic partnership" with Russia and maintained momentum in ties despite the Ukraine conflict. India is yet to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine and has consistently advocated for resolution of the conflict. through dialogue and diplomacy.
The prime minister said the visit will also give him an opportunity to meet the vibrant Indian community in Russia.
In a post on 'X', Modi said, "For the next three days, we will be in Russia and Austria. These visits will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen ties with these nations, with whom India has tested friendship." During his trip to Austria on July 9-10, the Prime Minister described the country as a "firm and reliable partner" of India.
"In Austria I will have the opportunity to meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Karl Nehammer," Modi said.
"Austria is our firm and reliable partner and we share the ideals of democracy and pluralism." "This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in more than 40 years. I look forward to my talks to take our partnership to even greater levels in areas new and emerging innovation, technology and sustainable development, among others," he said.
Modi said he looked forward to exchanging views with business leaders from both sides to explore mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities.
"I will also be interacting with the Indian community in Austria, which enjoys a good reputation for professionalism and conduct," he said. Ahead of Modi's visit to Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the agenda will be "extensive." .
"Obviously the agenda will be extensive, not to say overloaded. It will be an official visit and we hope that the heads of government will also be able to talk informally," he said.
At the talks, Modi is expected to urge Russia to end the recruitment of Indians as support personnel for the Russian army and ensure the return home of those still operating in the force. The annual summit between the PM India and the President of Russia is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The annual summits are held alternately in India and Russia.
The last summit was held on December 6, 2021 in New Delhi. President Putin had visited India to attend the summit. At the summit, both sides sealed 28 memorandums of understanding and agreements, besides issuing a joint statement titled "India-Russia Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity".
Prime Minister Modi and President Putin last held bilateral talks on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022.
At the meeting, Modi had pressured Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine saying, "The current era is not one of war." Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Modi has held several telephone conversations with Putin and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
