Collaboration not directed against anyone: Russian Prez
*Defence Ministers hold crucial talks
NEW DELHI, Dec 4:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday warmly welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin as he kick-started a nearly 27-hour visit to India to further shore up an eight-decade bilateral partnership that remained in firm footing notwithstanding fractious geopolitical upheavals.
In reflection of the importance India attached to the Russian leader’s first visit to India in four years, Modi received him at New Delhi’s Palam airport with a hug amid a group of artistes performing traditional dances.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO
From the airport, the two leaders travelled to Modi’s official residence in his car, nearly three months after the Prime Minister rode with Putin in the Russian leader’s vehicle in Chinese city of Tianjin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
“Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefited our people,” the prime minister said on social media.
In the evening, Modi hosted a private dinner for the Russian president in a reciprocal gesture to the hospitality extended to the prime minister by Putin during his visit to Moscow in July last year. Modi’s official residence was decorated with bright lights and flowers on the occasion.
The conversation between the two leaders over the dinner is expected to set the tone for the 23rd India-Russia summit talks on Friday that is expected to produce a number of tangible outcomes to further broadbase the time-tested relationship.
Boosting defence ties, insulating India-Russia trade from external pressure and exploring cooperation in small modular reactors are set to be the focus of the summit between the two leaders that is expected to be closely watched by Western capitals.
The Russian leader’s visit to New Delhi has assumed greater significance as it is taking place against the backdrop of rapid downturn in India-US relations.
Following the summit, the two sides are expected to seal several agreements including in areas of trade.
On Friday, Putin will be accorded a ceremonial welcome and a tri-services guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, before he goes to Raj Ghat to pay homage at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
It will be followed by talks between the two leaders in a restricted format and with their delegations at Hyderabad House, the venue for the summit.
Modi and Putin will also attend a business event jointly organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Roscongress at Bharat Mandapam.
In the evening, Putin will attend a state banquet to be hosted in his honour by President Droupadi Murmu. The Russian leader is expected to leave India at around 9 pm on Friday.
In the summit talks, New Delhi is expected to press for addressing the increasing trade deficit caused by India’s procurement of large volumes of Russian crude oil.
The India-Russia collaboration is not directed against any country and it is solely aimed at safeguarding the national interests of the two sides, Putin has said against the backdrop of Washington’s aggressive approach towards New Delhi and Moscow.
In the context of India’s energy ties with Russia, Putin said certain “actors” dislike New Delhi’s growing role in international markets in view of its close relations with Moscow and these elements are aiming to constrain India’s influence for political reasons by imposing “artificial obstacles”.
In an interview to India Today news channel that was released on Thursday evening, the Russian president, referring to Western sanctions against Moscow, said his country’s energy cooperation with New Delhi largely “remains unaffected”.”Neither me nor Prime Minister Modi, despite certain external pressure we face, have never approached our collaboration to work against someone,” the Russian president said in response to a question on Washington’s aggressive approach.
“President Trump has his own agenda, his own goals, whereas we focus on ours — not against anyone, but rather aimed at safeguarding our respective interests, India’s and Russia’s interests,” he said.
Rejecting Washington’s objection to India procuring crude oil from Russia, Putin said if the US has the right to buy Russian fuel, why “shouldn’t India have the same privilege”.
“As for India’s purchase of energy resources from Russia, I would like to note and have already mentioned this once, the US itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants,” Putin said.
The Russian President also responded to a question on India lowering procurement of crude oil from Russia in view of Western sanctions on Moscow.
“Well, there is a certain decline in overall trade turnover during the first nine months of this year. This is just a minor adjustment. Overall, our trade turnover stands almost at the same level as before,” he said.
“I can’t give you exact monthly figures right now, but trade in petroleum products and crude oil, as well as the production of petroleum products for consumers of oil, Russian oil, is running smoothly in India,” he said.
Putin also said that India cannot be treated the way it was several decades back.
“Prime Minister Modi is not someone who succumbs to pressure easily. The Indian people can certainly take pride in their leader. This is absolutely obvious,” he said.
“His stance is unwavering and straightforward, without being confrontational. Our goal is not to provoke conflict; rather, we aim to protect our lawful rights. India does the same,” he said.
The Russian President also complimented PM Modi’s leadership.
“Our collaborative endeavours with Prime Minister Modi carry significant weight because they transcend our mutual ties,” he said.
“Given its direct relevance to both nations, ensuring stability in key areas of engagement is crucial, as it helps secure the fulfilment of our objectives. Prime Minister Modi sets very challenging tasks for the country –and for himself in the first place, then for the administration, and eventually for the nation,” he said.
The Russian President did not give a direct reply to a question on if India was looking at procuring additional batches of S-400 missile systems.
“India stands out as one of our reliable and privileged partners in this area. We are not merely selling something to India and India isn’t merely buying something from us in the sphere of defence and security.
“It is a different level, a different quality of relations we have with India, and we value this. We see how India values this relationship too,” he said.
Putin said Russia is not simply selling defence technology to India but it is sharing it with the country.
“It is a very rare thing to see in the sphere of military-technical cooperation. It speaks to the level of trust between the two countries and the level of trust between the two peoples.
“We have a broad portfolio indeed, including naval construction, rocket and missile engineering, and aircraft engineering,” he added.
Earlier, India and Russia on Thursday resolved to expand their bilateral defence cooperation with New Delhi showing its keen interest in procuring additional batches of S-400 missile systems from Moscow to bolster its combat prowess.
The two sides deliberated on ways to enhance the overall defence and strategic ties at a key delegation-level meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov that took place a day ahead of the 23rd India-Russia annual summit.
In the meeting with Belousov, Singh reaffirmed India’s determination for capacity building of its indigenous defence industry for both local production and exports while highlighting new opportunities for enhancing India-Russia collaboration across niche technologies.
Both sides reiterated that the India-Russia relationship is based on a “deep sense of trust, common principles and mutual respect”, the Defence Ministry said. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
