New Delhi, 02 April (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a cordial and substantive meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Denis Manturov, at the Prime Minister’s Office here today. The interaction marked another milestone in India–Russia efforts to preserve and deepen their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” amid a complex global environment.

Denis Manturov briefed the Prime Minister on the latest developments in trade and economic cooperation, fertiliser supplies, transport and energy connectivity, and people‑to‑people exchanges. Both leaders welcomed the steady progress in implementing the outcomes of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, held in New Delhi in December 2025, which yielded a wide‑ranging set of agreements in defence, energy, nuclear cooperation, space and digital sectors.

Prime Minister Modi appreciated the sustained follow‑up by working groups and technical agencies in both countries, underscoring that such structured implementation helps build long‑term predictability and trust.

The Prime Minister recalled President Vladimir Putin’s successful state visit to India for the 23rd Annual Summit, noting that the two sides have agreed on a five‑year roadmap to expand the India–Russia economic partnership and to raise annual bilateral trade to 100 billion US dollars by 2030. He reiterated India’s commitment to overcoming logistical and regulatory challenges to ensure smoother flows of energy, fertilisers and critical goods, and highlighted the importance of greater business‑to‑business coordination.

Prime Minister Modi conveyed his warm greetings to President Putin and expressed expectation of regular high‑level dialogue in the coming months, including at the next India–Russia Annual Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Moscow. The two sides also underlined the value of India and Russia’s close coordination in multilateral forums such as the United Nations, BRICS and SCO, as they seek to promote peace, stability and inclusive development.

In a broader context, the meeting reinforced the resilience of India–Russia ties, grounded in mutual respect and strategic autonomy. By strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, technology and cultural engagement, the Delhi discussions position the partnership to remain a key pillar of both countries’ foreign‑policy architectures in the years ahead.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar