Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the “close coordination and deep friendship” between his country and Russia, as he held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan on Tuesday.
The leaders discussed the strategic partnership between the two nations, which the Russian president said continues to expand. “We’re seeing a strengthening of cooperation between our legislatures; our foreign ministers are in constant contact, and bilateral trade is showing good dynamics,” Putin told Modi.
He added that Moscow “deeply appreciates” Indian-Russian cooperation within BRICS, “since both our countries are founding members of the association.” “Our relations are so tight that I thought you would understand me without translation,” Putin added.
Modi, who is on his second visit to Russia this year, remarked that his trips to the country “reflect our close coordination and deep friendship.” The meeting of the two leaders in Moscow in July also “strengthened our cooperation across all areas,” he added.
Bilateral trade between the two nations has almost tripled over the past two years to around $65 billion, as India has ramped up its energy, fertilizer, and coal imports from Russia. In July, the two leaders also set a goal of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. However, both sides have acknowledged that reducing the trade imbalance is vital to sustaining this positive momentum. Indian exports to Russia accounted for less than $5 billion over the previous fiscal year.
Ahead of his visit, Modi said the trip to Kazan would serve to “reinforce the special and privileged strategic partnership” between the two countries. He also hailed the expansion of BRICS, stating that the incorporation of new members last year “added to its inclusivity and agenda for the global good.”
During his conversation with Putin, Modi urged that a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict be reached, and expressed his readiness to provide any assistance necessary to do so. “As I have said before, we believe that problems should be resolved peacefully, and we fully support the swift establishment of peace and stability,” he added, highlighting New Delhi’s call for a resolution through “diplomacy and dialogue.”
During their talks on Tuesday, Putin said Moscow welcomes New Delhi’s decision to open a consulate in Kazan. “India’s expanded diplomatic presence in Russia will contribute to the further development of bilateral relations.”
Modi announced the opening of two new Indian consulates in Russia – in Kazan and Ekaterinburg. The move aims to facilitate people-to-people ties and expand business cooperation between the two nations. Kazan has a large Indian diaspora, primarily represented by students. Before the leaders met, Modi received a warm welcome from hundreds of members of the Indian community who gathered at the hotel where he is staying.
This is Modi’s second visit to Russia in just three months. During his trip to Moscow in July – his first bilateral foreign visit after securing a third consecutive term in office – the leaders held talks on a wide range of issues, from energy trade, defense cooperation, and joint projects in various domains to global security concerns and ongoing conflicts. The visit in July came under intense scrutiny from Washington and its allies. India has refused to condemn Russia over the Ukraine conflict and continues to engage extensively with Moscow despite pressure from the West.