India and Russia sought to restore the warmth in their ties in the wake of certain unsavoury developments, particularly Moscow’s attempt to woo Pakistan that had upset New Delhi no ends.

Yuri Trutnev, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and envoy of President Vladimir Putin, currently on a four-day visit to India, met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi while Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar held foreign office consultations with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister I V Morgulov in Moscow to discuss a range of issues.

The focus of the meeting between the two ministers was on economic cooperation between their two countries. They discussed wide-ranging issues regarding India-Russia economic relations.

They agreed that the privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia is based on long standing and time-tested ties, is very deep and extends to all spheres of mutual interest.

Swaraj specifically stressed the growing mutual beneficial ties between India and Russia in the energy sector, particularly in the Russian Far East, and hoped that the mutual complementary strength of the two partners in the diamond sector would be exploited fully.

She also emphasised on cooperation in maritime and agricultural sector, and on institutional linkages between the countries in these areas. 

During the foreign office consultations in Moscow, the two sides discussed the theme of promotion of India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership, the implementation of the plan of events dedicated to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as well as issues related to preparation for the planned visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia later this year. 

The two sides noted with satisfaction the commonality of the approaches of India and Russia  on relevant global and regional issues, including the reform of the international financial institutions, the establishment of security and equal cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, and combating terrorism and drug trafficking.

Both sides expressed the intention to further coordinate efforts in the international arena, including in the UN, "Group of Twenty", and also on other platforms.

They confirmed their commitment for the creation of a multi-polar world order based on fair and democratic principles and the rule of international law.

Indian officials said the talks in both New Delhi and Moscow were held in a cordial atmosphere, reflecting the desire of the two countries to further strengthen the time-tested relationship.

This assumes significance against the backdrop of recent attempts by Russia to reach out to Pakistan by holding joint military exercises in September last year and virtually endorsing Islamabad’s Afghan policy of peace overtures towards the Taliban.

India had conveyed its unhappiness to Russia on both these counts. Moscow is believed to have assured New Delhi that it would not conduct military exercises with Pakistan again. It has also officially denied the charge that it was supporting the Taliban to facilitate talks between the Afghan regime and the militant