New Delhi, 5 December (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared the high table at a glittering state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday evening, capping the Russian leader’s two-day state visit to India for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.

The banquet followed a packed day of engagements that included formal summit talks, business interactions and a review of the long-standing “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between India and Moscow.

Banquet and protocol

President Murmu received President Putin with full ceremonial honours at Rashtrapati Bhavan before leading him into the ornate Durbar Hall for the state banquet held in his honour on Friday. Senior members of the Union Council of Ministers, top officials, envoys and leading figures from business and strategic circles attended the dinner, underscoring the political and diplomatic weight attached to the visit.

Murmu’s address and Putin’s thanks

In her banquet address, President Murmu highlighted the depth and resilience of India–Russia ties, framing the relationship as a cornerstone of India’s multi‑polar foreign policy and long-term strategic planning.

Responding to the warm reception, President Putin publicly thanked President Murmu, Prime Minister Modi and the Indian delegation for what he described as exceptionally cordial hospitality and intensive, results‑oriented discussions over the two days.

Modi–Putin summit outcomes

Earlier on Friday, Modi and Putin held formal summit talks in New Delhi, focusing on trade expansion, defence cooperation, energy security, nuclear projects, technology and connectivity initiatives.

Both sides are expected to issue a joint statement and sign multiple agreements, including a Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of Russian‑Indian Economic Cooperation up to 2030, intended to boost long-term trade and industrial collaboration.

Economic and strategic agenda

Officials indicated that the talks sought to build on bilateral trade that has risen to over 60 billion dollars in recent years, while attempting to rebalance the trade basket and deepen private‑sector participation.

Cooperation in emerging fields such as digital technologies, space, transport, healthcare and labour mobility featured prominently in the agenda, alongside regional and global security issues of mutual concern.

End of visit and next steps

The state banquet effectively served as the closing ceremonial moment of Putin’s two‑day state visit, after which the Russian president was scheduled to depart from New Delhi later on Friday night.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar