First informal summit between PM Narendra Modi & Russian President Putin

It’s not only US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un who are setting up their first summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had their first ‘informal summit’.

 Describing his first informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “extremely productive”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the discussions focused on a range of India-Russia ties and other global issues.

“Friendship between India and Russia has stood the test of time. Our ties will continue to scale newer heights in the coming years, said PM Modi who met Putin in the coastal city of Sochi.

The two leaders agreed that the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ between India and Russia is an important factor for global peace and stability, the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the two countries have an important role to play in contributing to an “open and equitable” world order.

The issue of terrorism and radicalization came up during the talks and both the leaders agreed to work together to combat it.

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“In this context, they endorsed the importance of restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan in an atmosphere free from the threat of terrorism, and agreed to work together towards achieving this objective,” said the foreign ministry statement.

PM Modi’s day-long visit to Sochi comes less than a month after he visited the Chinese city of Wuhan and held several rounds of informal talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping.

Thanking Putin for inviting him to Sochi, PM Modi said the gesture has added a new aspect to India-Russia ties.

“You have added a new aspect of an informal summit in the bilateral relationship which I think is a great occasion and creates trust,” he said.

Both the leaders agreed on the importance of building a multipolar world order.

PM Modi’s visit comes against the backdrop of the United States imposing sanctions against Russia and its possible impact on India-Russia defence cooperation. Along with this, the US sanctions against Iran could affect India’s trade ties and development of Chabahar port.

“Our defence ministries maintain very close contacts and cooperation. It speaks about a very high strategic level of our partnership,” said Putin.

PM Modi also visited an educational centre set up at the initiative of the Russian President and interacted with students there. He also thanked Putin for the “exceptional hospitality”.