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PM Narendra Modi leaves for Russia to attend informal summit in Sochi

The meeting between the two leaders is the first since the re-election of Putin as the President of Russia. The summit is being held on the lines of the Wuhan informal summit between PM Modi and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping. 

SNS | New Delhi | May 21, 2018 9:43 am

PM Narendra Modi leaves for Russia to attend informal summit in Sochi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emplanes for Russia from New Delhi on Monday. (Photo: PIB)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday emplaned for Russia to attend an  informal summit with President Vladimir Putin in Sochi.

The meeting between the two leaders is the first since the re-election of Putin as the President of Russia. The summit is being held on the lines of the Wuhan informal summit between PM Modi and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping.

In a series of tweets in Russian and then in English, PM Modi on Sunday said that he looked forward to the visit to Sochi and his meeting with President Putin.

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I am confident the talks with President Putin will further strengthen the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia, said PM Modi in another tweet.

During their informal summit,  the two leaders will primarily focus on global and regional issues, including the impact of the US decision to withdraw from a nuclear deal with Iran, the situation in Afghanistan and Syria, the threat of terrorism and matters relating to the upcoming SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) and BRICS summits.

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

The possible impact of the US sanctions against Russia under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) on Indo-Russia defence cooperation may also figure during the talks between Modi and Putin.

The sanctions against Russian oligarchs and companies, including Rosoboronexport, the state-owned Russian weapons trading company, has raised concerns in India about a possible impact on India’s military buys from Moscow.

An External Affairs Ministry release said PM Modi’s visit to Russia will be an important occasion for him and Putin to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective in order to further strengthen the special and privileged strategic partnership.

“Both leaders will discuss their respective national developmental priorities and bilateral matters,” the statement said.

It said the informal summit was in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest level.

Putin is also expected to visit India later this year for the annual bilateral summit.

Russia and Japan are the only two countries with which India holds annual bilateral summits.

PM Modi’s visit to Russia also comes just after Putin won a fourth term in office in March this year after remaining in power for almost two decades. Modi and Putin last met in Russia last year.

(With agency inputs)

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