January 10, 2025 07:41 pm (IST)
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Russia is 'a pillar of strength': Modi
New Delhi, Dec 11 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the strategic partnership with Russia is incomparable in content and that the country is a pillar of strength for India while he delivered a joint statement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Modi held the 15th Annual Summit talks with Putin in India on Thursday, who landed in Delhi on Wednesday night for a 22-hour visit.
"The steadfast support of the people of Russia for India has been there even at difficult moments in our history. It has been a pillar of strength for India`s development, security and international relations. India, too, has always stood with Russia through its own challenges," Modi said after the summit talks, during a joint press conference with Putin.
Praising the Russian President, he said, "President Putin is a leader of a great nation with which we have a friendship of unmatched mutual confidence, trust and goodwill. We have a Strategic Partnership that is incomparable in content."
"The character of global politics and international relations is changing. However, the importance of this relationship and its unique place in India`s foreign policy will not change. In many ways, its significance to both countries will grow further in the future," Modi said.
The two leaders met at Delhi's Hyderabad House to strengthen their ties and agreements were signed, including those on atomic energy, oil and gas. They also signed MoU on military personnel training.
Modi reaffirmed that Russia will remain India's most important defence partner.
"Russia has been India`s foremost defence partner through decades. My first visit outside Delhi as Prime Minister was to our new aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya. It sails our seas as a great symbol of our defence cooperation. Even as India`s options have increased today, Russia will remain our most important defence partner. We have conducted joint exercises across all three wings of the Armed Forces in the last six months," he said.
"President Putin and I discussed a broad range of new defence projects. We also discussed how to align our defence relations to India`s own priorities, including Make in India," he added.
Modi announced that Russia has offered to fully manufacture in India one of its most advanced helicopters. It includes the possibility of exports from India. It can be used for both military and civilian use.
The Indian PM said that he proposed that Russia should locate manufacturing facilities in India for spares and components for Russian defence equipment in India.
"He (Putin) responded very positively to my request," Modi asserted.
In a series of tweets following summit-level talks between PM Modi and Russian President Putin, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the two countries have agreed on strategic vision to strengthen cooperation in atomic energy.
"At Summit India-Russia agree on Strategic Vision to strengthen cooperation in peaceful uses of Atomic Energy," he tweeted.
"Energy security is critical for India`s economic development and creating jobs for our youth. Russia is also a key partner in this area," Modi said at the press conference.
India also agreed to expeditiously identify a second site, in addition to Kudankulam, for Russian-designed nuclear power units in India.
"I am pleased that the first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is on stream. It has added 20% to the existing capacity for nuclear power in India. We are on course for installing the next three units of 1000 MW each," Modi said.
Modi said ten more nuclear reactors are coming up.
"Today, we have outlined an ambitious vision for nuclear energy of at least ten more reactors. It will have the highest standards of safety in the world. It will also include manufacture of equipment and components in India. This also supports our Make in India policy," said he.
India and Russia during the summit discussed collaboration between companies in oil & gas exploration and production as well as in LNG projects and supplies.
"Russia is the world`s top source for hydrocarbon resources; and, India one of the world`s largest importers. Yet, despite our close friendship, our collaboration in this sector has been disappointing. Today, we have made a new start with a few important agreements. But, we will set an ambitious agenda for partnership in oil and natural gas, " said Modi.
Several agreements were signed between the two countries during the visit of Putin.
"Today we have taken a number of decisions and signed several agreements. They also reflect our shared belief that in today`s world, vibrant economic relations constitute a key pillar of a strong strategic partnership. Similarly, closer contacts between people and in areas like education, culture and tourism are important," he said.
"I thank President Putin for his support for India`s closer relations with Eurasian Economic Union. The International North South Transport Corridor will connect us better. And, today, we will jointly visit the World Diamond Conference. This highlights our new innovative approaches to strengthening economic relations," Modi said.
The India PM said institutions like BRICS, East Asia Summit and G 20 have also widened the two countries' framework of engagement.
"This is President Putin`s eleventh Annual Summit and my first. This Summit reinforced my conviction in the extraordinary value and strength of this partnership. I am confident that our bilateral cooperation and international partnership will acquire new vigour and scale new heights in the years ahead," said Modi.
India and Russia on Thursday also discussed potential for bilateral cooperation in outer space to advance societal applications.
The two countries signed as many as seven agreements and 13 MoUs.
This was Putin’s first summit with PM Modi. The duo had also met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brazil in July this year and during the G-20 summit in Australia last month.
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