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 visit to Russia for summit talks with President Vladimir Putin amid the conflict in Ukraine.
This is Modi's first trip to Russia since 2019 and the first since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
After concluding his engagements in Russia on July 9, Modi will leave for Austria in the first visit by an Indian prime minister to that country in more than 40 years.
Modi and Putin will explore ways to further expand bilateral relations in various areas, including trade, energy and defence, at the 22nd annual India-Russia summit on Tuesday.
"The special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia has advanced in the last 10 years, including in areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges," Modi said in his statement. exit.
"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.
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."
On 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 over 40 years. I look forward to my discussions to take our partnership to even greater heights in new and emerging areas of 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 its professionalism and conduct," he said.
Ahead of Modi's visit to Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the agenda will be "extensive."
The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest mechanism of institutional dialogue 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 MoUs 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.
In 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 had several telephone conversations with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Reflecting its strong friendship with Russia, India has not yet condemned Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and has maintained that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
This is Modi's first trip to Russia since 2019 and the first since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
After concluding his engagements in Russia on July 9, Modi will leave for Austria in the first visit by an Indian prime minister to that country in more than 40 years.
Modi and Putin will explore ways to further expand bilateral relations in various areas, including trade, energy and defence, at the 22nd annual India-Russia summit on Tuesday.
"The special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia has advanced in the last 10 years, including in areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges," Modi said in his statement. exit.
"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.
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."
On 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 over 40 years. I look forward to my discussions to take our partnership to even greater heights in new and emerging areas of 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 its professionalism and conduct," he said.
Ahead of Modi's visit to Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the agenda will be "extensive."
The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest mechanism of institutional dialogue 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 MoUs 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.
In 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 had several telephone conversations with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Reflecting its strong friendship with Russia, India has not yet condemned Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and has maintained that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
