Russia Considers India Worthy Candidate for UNSC Permanent Membership

The joint statement issued during the visit said: “Russia regards India as a deserving and strong candidate that can bring an independent and responsible approach within the UN Security Council and reaffirms its strong support to India’s candidature for a permanent seat in a reformed UNSC”. But it was energy and defence that topped the agenda.

It was earlier unclear if the two leaders would hold meetings at the airport or whether they will fly to Jati Umra where the prime minister’s residence Raiwind is located.

Breaking India’s month-long silence on the Turkish downing of a Russian military jet, Modi clearly aligned New Delhi with Moscow’s position, publicly calling the incident “unfortunate” and emphasising that it occurred “in Syria”.

In addition, Russia has also emphasised on involving India in building Russian-designed nuclear facilities – which will include cooperation in joint extraction of natural uranium, production of nuclear fuel and elimination of atomic waster – in third countries.

Modi is seeking to ramp up the country’s nuclear energy use to meet the rising energy needs, with a programme for at least 12 new reactors, as well as reduce its heavy dependency on coal, the worst greenhouse gas producing fuel. “The agreement today will increase Indian manufacturing contents in these reactors”. It supports my mission of Make in India. The page contains Gandhiji’s handwritten notes.

However no progress was announced on an anticipated purchase of S-400 missiles, Russia’s top-of-the-line anti-aircraft defence systems.

Modi said, the youth of India have woken up.

Summing up his talks with Mr. Putin, Mr. Modi said, “We have laid the foundation of the future character of this strategic partnership”.

When Modi went around the world, we went with him.

He said India’s GDP has clocked an impressive 7.4 per cent growth and the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international agencies have projected this growth momentum to continue.

Trade between India and Russian Federation, just below $10 billion in 2014, fell by more than 14 percent this year. In the presence of President Putin, Modi stressed that India wants more co-operation from Russian Federation in different sectors, although the two countries have been co-operating in the global and political arenas more actively for years.

He said work on the first two reactors was now in preparation. He called Russian Federation “a very old and trusted partner”.

The two leaders will also oversee the signing of agreements expected to focus on defense, nuclear and space cooperation.

“Together with President Putin we have a great level of mutual understanding of global issues, ” said Modi. President Putin and I are moving creatively in expanding our economic relations.

He invited Russian Federation to become India’s partner in security and prosperity. “We have a strategic partnership, a true strategic partnership”.