Modi arrives in Russia on two-day visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Moscow on Wednesday evening on a two-day visit during which he will attend the 16th India-Russia annual summit. “Talks, meeting investors and people to people ties are the focus areas”, PMO India stated in a separate tweet.

Noting that Russia provided defence equipment to India and global support when few were willing to hold its hands, the Prime Minister said, “Indians will never forget the Russian support that we got when we needed it the most”. “It is a very important visit”, said Professor Anuradha Chenoy of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

India has so far only called for a “coordinated” challenge to the IS – but Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar had last week said New Delhi may be open to joining a UN-mandated mission against the terror group in Syria and Iraq.

The building project was initiated by India as a symbolic gift to the war-torn Afghanistan in 2007, manifesting the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The Foreign Secretary said India was expecting a deeper engagement in Russia’s oil and coal sectors besides enhancing cooperation in other key sectors such as diamond trade and agro-business. We also want to increase cooperation in science and technology, mining among other sectors.

He also hoped that India-Russia bilateral trade, though growing, will increase to $30 billion by 2025 and the investments to $15 billion each by 2025.

Echoing last year’s assurances, Modi assured Putin that Moscow would remain India’s “principal partner” in defense, Russian state news reported.

Modi visits Russian Federation at the invitation of Putin.

An official press release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Mr. Modi would be greeted with twin cultural programs, Abhinandan and Abhivyakti in Moscow tomorrow. “With India’s initiative, an organisation of such nations has been formed”, Modi said.

“Several top managers of Russian defense enterprises have confirmed to Kommersant that India may buy at least five divisions of S-400 systems, thus becoming the second largest customer of the system after China”. And, when we are tested the most, we have spoken most strongly in one voice and as one people.

Moscow has already reached an agreement with New Delhi to construct 12 nuclear power plants in India.

The event will also prove in developing the economical ties of both the countries as CEOs of both the countries will meet on account of diplomatic meet.

“Another broadly discussed issue is the preparations for signing of an intergovernmental agreement on joint production in India of 200 multi-purpose helicopters Ka-226T”. Jaishankar said both India and Russian Federation believed that the Syrian issue could be resolved through political and diplomatic means.