PM Modi Russia Visit: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Moscow presents a significant opportunity for direct talks on trade with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The discussions aim to address issues such as the trade imbalance between the two nations.
“There are issues…like the trade imbalance…So, at a leadership level, it will be a great opportunity for Prime Minister Modi and President Putin to sit down and directly talk to each other. And then obviously, as per their directions, we will see how to take the relationship forward,” Jaishankar stated.
Importance of the Annual Bilateral Summit
Highlighting the importance of the India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit, Jaishankar described it as a “good tradition” that has unfortunately seen some delays. “Now, this was a tradition. It’s a good tradition. We are two countries that have such a strong and very steady history of working together. So both of us value very much the need for an annual summit,” he told ANI.
Commitment to Regular Engagement
Jaishankar also recalled his last visit to Russia at the end of the previous year, where he conveyed India’s commitment to the annual summit. “Even last year, I went to Moscow at the end of the year, and at that time, I carried a message from the prime minister that we are committed to the annual summit, and we will do it sooner rather than later,” he said.
The minister emphasized the importance of these summits in evaluating the state of bilateral relations. “It’s something that was waiting to happen. It’s a regular occurrence. It is a way of taking stock of any relationship,” he noted.
Jaishankar pointed out the significant growth in economic relations between India and Russia. “What you do is you look at the state of the world, there are things you want to do more. There are things you want to do differently. One of the big changes has actually been that our economic relationship with Russia has grown tremendously,” he added.
PM Modi’s visit to Moscow on July 8, at President Putin’s invitation, will mark the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. The leaders are expected to discuss various bilateral issues and explore new areas of cooperation, further strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two countries. The summit is anticipated to provide a platform for both leaders to align their visions and chart a path for future engagements, ensuring mutual growth and development.
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