Finance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia on July 8-9 to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin said on Thursday.
The Kremlin released a statement stating that Putin and Modi will talk about potential for expanding their bilateral relationship as well as global and regional challenges.
According to the foreign ministry, PM Modi and Putin will discuss current regional and global issues of mutual concern and examine the whole spectrum of multifaceted relations between the two countries.
A day earlier, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia had called India a “longtime friend of Russia”.
“We have relations of special privilege, strategic partnership with India. We cooperate in so many areas, and I think that will be a substantive conversation on the whole range of issues that our countries cooperate on,” Nebenzia said.
When asked what he expects will from the visit, Nebenzia said, “I expect Russian-Indian relations to blossom even better.”
This will be Modi’s first bilateral visit in his third term following a trip to Italy last month to participate in the outreach session of the G7 Summit. It is also his first visit to Russia since 2019, and also the first since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The two sides are anticipated to review cooperation in space, nuclear energy, and defense in addition to talking about ways to balance bilateral trade, which is currently skewed in Russia’s favor due to India’s increased purchases of Russian crude, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. According to the persons, they would also look into new opportunities for collaboration, such as networking projects.
The prime minister’s visit is anticipated to include a discussion of the safe and prompt repatriation of Indian nationals serving in the Russian military, which was a topic of discussion during Wednesday’s meetings between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Astana, the persons continued.
India has sought a “verified stop” to the recruitment of Indian nationals in the Russian Army following the death of four Indians on the frontlines of the conflict with Ukraine.
India has called for an end to hostilities and a return to communication and diplomacy, but it has not openly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to the people, Modi’s visit to Russia will also demonstrate India’s strategic independence in international affairs.
Diplomatic circles have expressed disapproval of the trip, though, since Indian prime ministers have customarily chosen a neighboring countries as the location of their first overseas visit.
From Russia, Modi will travel to Austria on July 9-10. This will be the first visit to Austria by an Indian premier in 41 years.
Modi will meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Modi and Nehammer will also address business leaders from both countries.
He will also interact with members of the Indian community in Moscow and Vienna.
Source:IE/HT
