Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described India’s relationship with Russia as a steady and guiding force through decades of global upheavals. His remarks came during a joint media address with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their high-level talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
PM Modi said the friendship between the two nations has continued to grow stronger over time and expressed gratitude to President Putin for consistently supporting India and strengthening the bilateral partnership through his leadership.
Welcoming the Russian President to the 23rd India–Russia Summit, PM Modi stated, “Today, I am delighted to welcome President Putin to the 23rd India-Russia Summit today. His visit comes at a time when our bilateral relations are experiencing several historic milestones. 25 years back, President Putin laid the foundation for our strategic partnership. 15 years ago, in 2010, our partnership was granted the status of a Special Privileged Strategic Partnership. For the past two and a half decades, he (President Putin) has nurtured this relationship with his leadership and vision.”
“His (President Putin) leadership, under all circumstances, has elevated our ties to new heights. I express my heartfelt gratitude to President Putin, my friend, for this deep friendship and unwavering commitment to India. The world has seen many ups and downs over the past eight decades. Humanity has faced many challenges and crises, and amidst all this, the India-Russia friendship has remained like a pole star. This relationship, founded on mutual respect and deep trust, has always stood the test of time,” he further asserted.
Speaking on issues of security, the Prime Minister referred to recent major terror incidents in India and Russia.
“Today, we also discussed regional and global issues. India and Russia have long cooperated shoulder to shoulder in the fight against terrorism. Whether it’s the terrorist attack in Pahalgam or the cowardly attack on Crocus City Hall, the root of all these incidents is the same. India firmly believes that terrorism is a direct attack on the values of humanity and global unity against it (terrorism) is our greatest strength,” PM Modi stressed.
PM Modi also announced new cooperation in the Arctic region, saying that India and Russia will work together to train Indian sailors for operations in polar waters, which he said will open up future job opportunities for India’s youth.
On the conflict in Ukraine, PM Modi reiterated, “India has advocated for peace in Ukraine from the very beginning. We welcome all efforts to find a peaceful and lasting solution to this issue. India has always been ready to contribute and will continue to do so.”
Energy collaboration was highlighted as another crucial pillar of the relationship.
“Energy security has been a strong and important pillar of the India-Russia partnership. Our decades-old cooperation in civil nuclear energy has been crucial in realising our shared clean energy priorities. We will continue this win-win cooperation. Our cooperation in critical minerals is crucial to ensuring secure and diversified supply chains across the world,” PM Modi noted.
Earlier in the day, President Putin received a warm welcome at Hyderabad House for the Annual Summit. The two leaders then held discussions to further strengthen their longstanding and resilient partnership.
Also Read: ‘The Welfare Of The World Is Only Through The Path Of Peace’: PM Modi Stresses On Ukraine Conflict
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