Super powers wind up their informal summit: PM Modi and Prez Putin vows to stand together and strengthen relations

Sochi, May 22: In a fruitful visit to Russia, PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin encompassed an extremely productive discussion over the relations between the two countries. The Black Sea coastal city noticed two strong superpowers coming together and reviewing a complete range of India-Russia relations as well as other global subjects during their first ever informal summit.

This first-ever informal summit determines to strengthen their ties which will continue to scale newer heights in the coming years for India and Russia. India and Russia have stood strong in their testing times and sighting the same, PM Modi said the seeds of the 'strategic partnership' sown by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Putin have now grown into a "special privileged strategic partnership" which is a "very big achievement" in itself.

 

Feeling grateful to Russian Prez Putin on inviting the Indian Prime Minister, PM Modi further said that the informal meeting would help in tightening and deepening the friendship and add a new aspect of the informal summit in the bilateral relationship. 

Paying special attention to the economic talks, the two superpowers focused on discussing the whole spectrum of the privileged strategic partnership, and also noted the steady growth of trade turnover between the countries. India Russia also discussed the military cooperation amid the United States sanction on Russia. Hailing joint activities of the two countries in the area of foreign politics, in particular within the United Nations, BRICS and the SCO, President Putin elaborated the fact that India and Russia share a very deep strategic partnership with each other.

 

Speaking on the pretext of combatting terrorism, both leaders expressed their concern over terrorism and radicalization, and their determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In this context, they endorsed the importance of restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan in an atmosphere free from the threat of terrorism and agreed to work together towards achieving this objective. 

Agreeing to institute a Strategic Economic Dialogue between NITI Aayog of India and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, both the countries decided to identify greater synergy in trade and investment. They noted with satisfaction the expanding cooperation in the energy sector and, in this regard, welcomed the arrival of the first consignment of LNG under a long-term agreement between Gazprom and GAIL, next month. They also reiterated the significance of longstanding partnership in the military, security and nuclear energy fields and welcomed the ongoing cooperation in these areas.

 

Taking forward the informal summit, the two leaders also took a boat ride from Bocharev Creek to Olympic Park in Russia's Sochi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin then visited the Sirius Educational Centre a unique educational center set up on the initiative of the Russian President. 

The Sirius Educational Centre is a unique educational center set up by the Talent and Success Educational Fund in 2015 on the initiative of President Putin and based at the Sochi Olympic facilities. The main purpose of the project is to identify, develop and provide professional support for children demonstrating gifts in technical creativity, art, the natural sciences, and sport.

Referring to the students of the center, PM Modi interacted with more than 700 students and said that he was thankful to his friend President Putin who provided him an opportunity to meet the bright stars of Russia. Having an interactive session with the students of Russia, PM Modi invited them to explore and interact with the Indian students. The charisma of PM Modi was such among the students that the whole crowd was seen cheering for PM Narendra Modi with bright smiles and even took autographs from the Prime Minister.

 

Covering every aspect of strengthening the ties, PM Narendra Modi waved to President Vladimir Putin as he bid farewell to the Prime Minister after having a fruitful informal summit.