Russia, India continue strategic partnership development

As the prime Minister was moving when “Jana Gana Mana” was being played at the defend of honour by a contingent of the Russian army, a Russian official gently nudged him to move back.

“All of us in the region – India, Pakistan, Iran and others – must unite, in trust and cooperation, behind this common goal and in recognition of our common destiny”.

Modi is seeking to expand the country’s nuclear energy use to meet the rising energy needs of the coal-dependent nation amid global warming risks, with a programme for at least 12 new reactors.

“Russia assists in building several power generating units at the Kudankulam nuclear plant”, he said, recalling that the first unit that was commissioned here in June 2014. The agreement today will increase Indian manufacturing content in these reactors. It supports my mission of Make in India.

Earlier in the day, Modi visited an emergency response centre, laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier – a World War II monument just outside the Kremlin – and addressed a group of over 40 top Indian and Russian business leaders.

Putin, in his opening remarks during his meeting with Modi, said, “I am pleased to note, and I am happy to do that, that we are consistently and confidently developing the privileged strategic partnership between India and Russian Federation”. The gifts were given to Mr Modi by the Russian President when they met in Kremlin here on Wednesday night.

Russian daily Kommersant this week said Putin’s one-on-one talks with Modi would likely be the defining moment for the deal as the two seek to resolve price disagreements. While flying for Kabul from Moscow post mid-night last night, an all satisfied PM tweeted, ” Goodbye Russia.,.I, leave with a great sense of satisfaction that this visit will further cement India-Russia ties”.

The efforts, he added, should be to remove hurdles to ensure better flow of investments from Indian companies in Russian Federation.

“The whole world is talking about India’s economic progress. Our Green Corridor project has taken off. The International North South Transit Corridor through Iran will significantly reduce transportation time and cost”.

He said India had been telling the world about the threats from terrorism for the past 30 years but it was not taken seriously.

The Prime Minister said that it is a matter of pride that so many people in Russian Federation express their fondness for India’s cultural heritage.

“These are matters of grave national sensitivities and we believe particularly that when the prime minister overseas represents the whole nation, these sensitivities must always be respected”, party spokesperson and former law minister Ashwani Kumar said at the Congress briefing.

Speaking at the CEO summit in Moscow today, Mr. Modi said the government has started the campaign to make India a global manufacturing hub.

“Earlier, India was exclusively seen as a market however now it’s seen as a producing hub for the world”.