Prime Minister Narendra Modi is back after a one-day informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Sochi, Russia. Putin, in a special gesture, personally bid farewell to Modi at the airport. The Indian PM held his first informal summit with Putin and discussed a range of bilateral topics, including defence cooperation and global issues of common concern. During his visit, he also visited the Moya Russia-Ethno centre along with Putin, where he saw various ancient artefacts crafted by Russian artisans and held talks with local artists. He then addressed students at Sirius educational centre situated at Sochi in Russia, where he invited the students to visit India. Modi also enjoyed a yacht-ride in the Black sea of the Atlantic Ocean situated in Eastern Russia.
Earlier, both world leaders sat for a one-on-one talk, in which Modi reiterated the strong bilateral relations between two countries. He also termed the relation as a special privileged partnership. Speaking at the meeting that was aimed at underscoring close ties, Modi said, “Russia is India's old-time friend. We share long-standing historical ties, and Mr President is my personal friend and a friend of India. For the past four years, you and I stood side by side in the bilateral format and on the international stage... I am very glad that it was so.”
Putin shared the sentiments, as he stressed on the important role the two countries play in maintaining global stability. Putin said, “Last year, our trade saw a significant increase, adding another 17 per cent since the beginning of this year.” The focus of talks between the two leaders were major international issues. Chief of India's national security advisory board, PS Raghavan had said, “The main driver of this meeting is the geopolitical environment prevailing today. The primary purpose of Modi's Russia trip would be to discuss the evolving geopolitical situation and to understand each other's perspective- to be able to see how we can both deal with situations in common interest.”
Modi said the seeds of “strategic partnership”sown by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Putin have now grown into a “special privileged strategic partnership” which is a “very big achievement” in itself. “I am grateful to President Putin who invited me for an informal meeting and hence, in the long friendship of ours, this is a new aspect that has been attached to our relationship,” Modi said. “You have added new aspect of informal summit in the bilateral relationship which I think is a great occasion and creates trust.”
“And you were the first international leader I met as Chief Minister. Moscow and you yourself marked the beginning of my career,” Modi said in his opening remarks at the landmark summit. Both, Modi and Putin expressed their concern over terrorism and radicalisation, and their determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They also endorsed the importance of restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan in an atmosphere free from the threat of terrorism, and agreed to work together towards achieving this objective.
They held in depth discussions on major internation issues and agreed that both the countries have an important role to play in contribution to an open and equitable world order. In this regard, they recognised each other's respective roles as major powers with common responsibilities for maintaining global peace and stability. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as having said, “The Monday talks were very intense. I am confident that the ongoing informal contacts between the leaders of Russia and India will be useful and will help define the further guidelines for our development and strategic partnership.”
