Talks With Putin Very Productive: PM Modi Signs Off from Russia

PM Modi’s two-day Russia summit comes days after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.  

The Quint
India
Updated:
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a Yacht in Sochi, Russia on 21 May.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a Yacht in Sochi, Russia on 21 May.
(Photo: PMO India)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned home after an "extremely productive" informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Monday. The two leaders reviewed the complete range of India-Russia relations as well as global issues and underlined the need for a multi-polar world during their first ever informal summit in this Black Sea coastal city.

Addressing the media at the meet, Modi said that the two had discussed the operationalisation of the International North South Transport Corridor, as well as BRICS.

Modi also thanked Putin for Russia’s push to get India permanent membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

  • Modi and Putin discussed BRICS, the construction of an international transport corridor as well as India’s membership in the SCO
  • PM Modi’s two-day Russia summit comes days after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

PM Modi Arrives in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Delhi on Tuesday, 22 May, from Russia's Sochi after an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PM Modi Daparts for India

PM Modi departed for India from Sochi on the night of Monday, 12 May.

Russian President Valdimir Putin accompanied him to the airport, where the two leaders held a small discussion Modi’s departure, concluding his one-day informal summit with the Russian President.

Economic and Free Trade Negotiations Scheduled for Autumn: Russian Foreign Minister

The negotiations on the creation of a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and India are scheduled for autumn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today after an informal summit between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

Prime Minister Modi and President Putin had productive discussions during their first ever informal summit in this Black Sea coastal city and the two leaders paid special attention to the economic talks.

“The negotiations on the creation of a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union and India are already scheduled for autumn,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by the state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

During the talks, the two sides noted with satisfaction the completion of formalities in the contacts between the two sides, he said.

Modi Speaks to Students of Sirius Educational Centre

PM Modi addressed a gathering of students from Sirius Educational Centre after his yacht ride with President Vladimir Putin.

Modi and Putin Take Yacht Ride

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin today took a yacht ride from Bocharev Creek to Olympic Park in Russia's Sochi after their informal summit.

Modi Congratulates Russia on Hosting FIFA World Cup 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated President Vladimir Putin and Russia for playing host to the FIFA World Cup 2018 beginning next month and hoped for the successful organisation of the sporting extravaganza.

The entire world is eagerly waiting for the FIFA World Cup 2018 and you are going to organise the event. You will be at the centre of the world’s attention and I congratulate you for that.
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

The 2018 men's FIFA World Cup will be held in Russia from 14 June to 15 July. A total of 64 matches will be played by 32 teams in 12 venues located in 11 cities.

The final will be held at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

What Are India and Russia's Defence Co-Operation Structures?

India and Russia’s various defence co-operation structures.(Photo: Twitter/ @IndianDiplomacy)

India and Russia’s military technical cooperation involves joint research, development, and production of advanced defence technologies and systems.

The Programme for Military Technical Co-operation guides India and Russia’s defence co-operation.

PM Modi to Visit the Moya-Russia Ethno Centre

The Moya-Russia Ethno Centre, Sochi.(Photo: ANI)

PM Modi is scheduled to visit the Moya-Russia Ethno Centre in Sochi in some time, ANI reported.

What Are India and Russia's Institutionalized Dialogue Mechanisms?

The official account of India’s Public Diplomacy, Ministry of External Affairs shared a description of the framework and institutionalized dialogue mechanisms laid down to ensure India and Russia’s strategic partnership functions smoothly.

The list of institutionalized dialogue mechanisms that India and Russia have implemented to ensure effective dialogue.(Photo: Twitter/@IndianDiplomacy)
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Modi Thanks Russia For Helping to Facilitate India's SCO Membership

PM Modi thanked Russia for playing a major role in helping India get a permanent membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) – an eight nation bloc which aims at military and economic cooperation between the member states. India and Pakistan were admitted last year into the organisation.

"We are working together on International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and BRICS," PM Modi said, ANI reported.

Welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Sochi, Putin said his visit would give a fresh impetus to bilateral ties.

He said Russia and India have been cooperating on several fronts in the multilateral and the international fora. He also mentioned military-to-military cooperation between the two countries.

Modi: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sowed Seeds of 'Strategic Partnership'

In his opening remarks, PM Modi said India and Russia have been friends for a long time and thanked President Putin for inviting him for the first-ever informal meeting at Sochi.

Modi recalled his first visit to Russia with then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001 and said Putin was the first world leader whom he met after becoming the chief minister of Gujarat.

He said the seeds of the 'strategic partnership' sown by then Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Putin has now grown into a "special privileged strategic partnership" between the two countries.

PM Modi and President Putin Begin Informal Summit

The Prime Minister and Russian President Vladimir Putin began their informal summit, a live telecast event, in Sochi.

India and Russia enjoy a ‘special privileged strategic partnership’ now. India and Russia have been friends for a long time. I’m thankful to President Putin for inviting me for an informal meeting at Sochi.
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

China to Russia: PM Modi Covering His Bases With Informal Summits

Given the current international political scenario, an attempt to arrest the divergence between India and Russia and revive a flagging bilateral relationship through an informal meet makes eminent sense.

Read the full story here.

PM Modi Arrives in Russia's Sochi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Russia's Sochi for an informal summit with President Vladimir Putin.

PM Modi Leaves for Russia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Russia's Sochi for an informal summit with President Vladimir Putin.

(Photo: ANI)

Talks Will Strengthen Indo-Russia Ties, Tweets PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 20 May, expressed hope that his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin would further strengthen the “special and privileged” strategic partnership between India and Russia.

In a series of tweets first in Russian and then in English on the eve of his visit to Russia, he said, “ I am confident the talks with President Putin will further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.”

What the "Agenda-less" Summit is Likely to Focus On

PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will primarily focus on pressing global and regional issues, including impact of the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, during their informal summit in Sochi on Monday, 21 May.

Official sources have said the two leaders will meet for four to six hours for the “agenda-less” talks where deliberations on bilateral issues are likely to be very limited.

They said the issues on the table may include economic impact on India and Russia in the wake of the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, situation in Afghanistan and Syria, threat of terrorism, and matters relating to the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS summits.

"India's Defence Engagement With Russia Will Not be Dictated by Other Countries"

The two world leaders are also likely to discuss possible impact of the US sanctions against Russia under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) on Indo-Russia defence cooperation might also figure during the talks between Modi and Putin.

India is not going to allow its defence engagement with Russia to be dictated by any other country, the sources have said, adding New Delhi has been lobbying with the Trump administration on the issue.

The aim of the informal summit is to use the friendship and trust between the two countries to create convergence on key global and regional issues, the sources said.

The two leaders may also deliberate on extending Indo-Russia civil nuclear cooperation to third countries, possible areas for cooperation for the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project, India's engagement with five-nation Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the situation in the Korean peninsula.

The sources said the large part of the informal meeting between Modi and Putin would be one-to-one and there might be limited segment for restricted delegation-level discussions.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

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Published: 20 May 2018,12:25 AM IST

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