President Vladimir Putin holds talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Moscow: Vladimir Putin had talks in the Kremlin with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Russia on a two-day official visit.

The Russian President and the Indian Prime Minister witnessed the signing of a package of documents on cooperation in various areas. Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi adopted a joint Russian-Indian Statement Through Relations of Trust to New Cooperation Horizons.

The documents signed include an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in helicopter building and a document on easing the procedures for mutual visits by certain categories of the two countries’ citizens.

Documents on investment cooperation in the Russian Far East, cooperation in countering customs violations, localisation in India of equipment production for nuclear power plants designed in Russia, and technical cooperation in railway sector were also signed.

Also Russia and India signed an agreement confirming the successful completion of the first stage of preparations to close the deal on the creation of a joint company on the basis of Vankorneft. The package also included memoranda of understanding on cooperation in geological surveying, exploration and hydrocarbon production on land and on the continental shelf of the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi also met with representatives of the two countries’ business communities and made statements for the press.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin welcomed Prime Minister to Moscow and said that it is a pleasure to note that we are consistently and confidently developing the privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India. Our relations are developing in all areas: this applies to political matters and the coordination of our efforts on the international arena; it also applies to the economy and humanitarian cooperation. We are developing parliamentary ties and our Intergovernmental Commission is working actively.

There are matters that require our special attention, particularly in the current complicated economic situation. I would like to note here the timeliness of your visit, even though it was planned, but it is very timely in the sense that it gives us a chance to compare notes on the main directions of our joint efforts.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and said India and Russia have a long history of cultural relations. And now we have a strong and reliable friend on the political and international arena – Russia. Russia has always been with us in hard times. We have a strategic partnership, a true strategic partnership.

I would like to express my condolences in connection with the recent developments in Egypt and Turkey, when a Russian pilot and innocent Russian citizens died. This was a great tragedy and the entire people of India were with Russia during these difficult moments.

Since you came to power as President and Mr Vajpayee became Prime Minister of India [Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indian Prime Minister between 1998 and 2002], the tradition of annual summits was born. These annual summits have raised Indian-Russian relations to a new level.

Our meetings give us the opportunity to quickly develop our relations and make decisions fast. I had the privilege and the opportunity to welcome you in India last year, when you visited us. I remember we made important decisions then.

Despite the various global problems, despite the confrontation against Russia, you have raised your country, your state to a qualitatively new level. Russia proudly moves along its own development path and I commend you personal leadership in this process.

I am certain that our summit will give a new impetus to our bilateral ties, giving new energy and strength to our mutual trust.

Once again, I would like to express my deep gratitude for the respect and love that our delegation has received.