Putin credits PM Modi's 'personal attention' for India-Russia trade boost

The Russian President also asked EAM Jaishankar to convey his best wishes to Modi and said he expected to meet him soon. Putin said the two leaders were likely to meet on the sidelines of the SCO summit and indicated that another meeting could take place later this year.

In Short

• Putin met Jaishankar in Moscow, praised bilateral cooperation depth
• Energy, fertiliser supplies, nuclear and high-tech cooperation discussed
• Putin expects to meet Modi soon at SCO summit and later this year

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "personal attention" to bilateral ties for the recent increase in India-Russia trade, while saying he hoped to meet the Indian leader soon. Putin made the remarks during his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Moscow, where he highlighted the depth of ties between the two countries and said their cooperation extended across government, parliamentary and economic spheres.

"I'm pleased to note that our trade turnover has increased this year. While it declined slightly last year, it's growing this year, and this is partly, and perhaps primarily, thanks to Prime Minister Modi, who is devoting his personal attention to developing Russian-Indian relations," Putin said.

The Russian President also asked Jaishankar to convey his best wishes to Modi and said he expected to meet him soon. Putin said the two leaders were likely to meet on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and indicated that another meeting could take place later this year.

"I hope to see him soon, as we planned, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, very soon. Our schedule is such that we will probably be able to meet again this year," Putin said.

Putin also praised the work being done by Jaishankar and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who heads the Russian side of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation.

He said the two sides had discussed several key issues, with cooperation in energy and fertiliser supplies among the priorities.

"One of these issues is not only energy – it is, of course, fertiliser supplies. We are doing everything to address this issue for Indian farmers, for agriculture; we are increasing these supplies and are ready to do so further," Putin said.

The Russian President said the two countries were also working on cooperation in nuclear energy, high-technology sectors and other areas, adding that progress was being made steadily.

"All other issues related to nuclear energy, cooperation in high-tech sectors, and other areas – they are all on the agenda, and progress is happening quite steadily," Putin said.

EAM Jaishankar's visit to Moscow comes amid continued efforts by India and Russia to deepen their longstanding strategic partnership, with trade, energy, fertilisers, nuclear cooperation and high-technology sectors forming key areas of bilateral engagement.

- Ends
With agency inputs