India-Russia Shared Goal Is To Maximise Complementarity: EAM Jaishankar In Moscow

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar emphasised on Thursday that India and Russia share the goal of maximising complementarity in their partnership.

Speaking in Moscow, Jaishankar expressed confidence that his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would be ‘fruitful, productive’ and help make the upcoming annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin as ‘outcome-oriented as possible’.

Jaishankar noted that the meeting allowed both sides to review bilateral ties across political relations, trade, economic investment, defence, science, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

He underlined that the 22nd Annual Summit held in July last year and subsequent engagements in Kazan guided to advance the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’.

Progress in Bilateral Cooperation

The minister recalled his recent meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov during the Inter-Governmental Commission, where they identified several solutions to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

“What I want to do today is to take those bilateral discussions forward so that we have maximum outcomes for the annual summit,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar highlighted recent Indian engagements in Russia, including visits by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and NITI Aayog chief Suman Berry.

He stressed that these visits reflected the depth of the India-Russia partnership against the backdrop of evolving global geopolitics and shifting trade dynamics.

Regular Diplomatic Engagements Strengthen Ties

Thanking Lavrov for the warm welcome in Moscow, Jaishankar noted that regular meetings at multilateral forums such as BRICS and the SCO Summit had ensured continuous dialogue between the two nations.

“These regular meetings are important at a time when international relations are changing rapidly,” he said.

On Wednesday, Jaishankar co-chaired the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) with Manturov.

Later, he attended the India-Russia Business Forum, where he urged businesses to expand trade, pursue joint ventures, and explore new areas of economic collaboration.

He reiterated that ‘an enduring strategic partnership must have a strong and sustainable economic component’.

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