India and Russia are working to finalise a series of agreements and initiatives to add significant depth to their long-standing partnership during Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on Monday. The minister is currently in Moscow for extensive discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to lay the groundwork for the high-profile summit scheduled for early next month.
Preparing for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit
Jaishankar emphasized the importance of his current Moscow meetings, stating they are crucial preparations for President Putin's visit to India for the 23rd annual summit. He revealed that numerous bilateral agreements, initiatives, and projects across various fields are under active discussion between the two nations. The external affairs minister expressed confidence that these would be finalised in the coming days, which will undoubtedly add more substance and texture to our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
The highly anticipated visit by the Russian president is expected to take place around December 5. During the summit, President Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to deliberate on further expanding the strategic partnership between their countries. This annual summit mechanism, where the Indian Prime Minister and the Russian President meet alternately in each other's countries, has been a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, with 22 such meetings having taken place so far.
India's Stance on Global Issues and Bilateral Stability
In his remarks, Jaishankar also addressed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, articulating India's supportive stance towards recent peace efforts. He stated that India supports recent efforts towards establishing peace and expressed hope that all parties would approach this goal constructively. The minister noted that an early cessation of the conflict and the ensuring of an enduring peace is in the interest of the entire international community.
Jaishankar characterized the India-Russia relationship as a long-standing factor of stability in international relations. He asserted that the growth and evolution of this partnership is not only in the mutual interest of both nations but also beneficial for the world at large. The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on other complex global issues, including the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan, maintaining the openness that has always characterized their diplomatic exchanges.
Solidifying a Time-Tested Partnership
The upcoming summit represents a continuation of high-level engagement between the two nations, following Prime Minister Modi's travel to Moscow for the annual summit in July of the previous year. Russia has consistently been described as a time-tested partner for India and remains a key pillar of New Delhi's foreign policy architecture.
The expected outcomes from the December summit are likely to further solidify the strategic ties between India and Russia, reinforcing a partnership that has endured shifting global dynamics. The specific agreements and projects under discussion, though not detailed publicly, are anticipated to cover a broad spectrum of cooperative fields, potentially including defense, energy, trade, and technology, reflecting the comprehensive nature of the bilateral relationship.
