New Delhi/Russia: Amid the External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar is visiting to Iran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 15 held a telephonic conversation with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
In Tehran, EAM Jaishankar on January 15, started his engagements there by meeting with Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash. They also exchanged views on the International North-South Transport Corridor.
EAM also met with his Iranian Counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and held bilateral discussion focused on the long term framework for India's involvement with Chabahar port and the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connectivity project. They also discussed the Gaza situation, Afghanistan, Ukraine and BRICS cooperation.
As the EAM Jaishankar was busy in Tehran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation on January 15 with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.
The two leaders reviewed progress on a number of issues of bilateral cooperation in follow-up to recent high-level exchanges between the two countries.
"They positively assessed the developments in bilateral relations and agreed to develop a roadmap for future initiatives to further strengthen the India-Russia Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership", the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in its statement on January 15
During discussion, they also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
PM Modi also conveyed his best wishes for Russia's Presidency of BRICS in 2024 and assured of India’s full support. They agreed to remain in touch.
Posting on X, PM Narendra Modi wrote:
"Had a good conversation with President Putin. We discussed various positive developments in our Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership and agreed to chalk out a roadmap for future initiatives. We also had a useful exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including Russia’s Presidency of the BRICS."
Had a good conversation with President Putin. We discussed various positive developments in our Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership and agreed to chalk out a roadmap for future initiatives. We also had a useful exchange of views on various regional and global issues,…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 15, 2024
What is the intention of this talks?
Last year in 2023, on 25-29 December, External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Russia.
In Moscow, External Affairs Minister called on President Vladimir Putin and held discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov.
EAM's visit to Russia provided an opportunity to review ongoing bilateral cooperation and consider ways to further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries. India-Russia relations have remained strong and steady building upon strategic convergences, geopolitical interests, and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held conversation with the President Putin on 15 January 2024.
The discussion focused on current issues of developing Russian-Indian relations of specially privileged strategic partnership. Both sides expressed satisfaction with various successes in practical interaction in such areas as cooperation in trade and the economy, science and technology, energy, transport and logistics, as well as cooperation in Russia's Far East, the Kremlin said.
Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi expressed interest in further stepping up mutually beneficial bilateral ties and wished each other every success at the upcoming elections – presidential election in Russia and the general election in India.
"On January 1, the Russian Federation assumed chairmanship of BRICS. In this context, both leaders emphasised their readiness to closely coordinate their approaches to the BRICS agenda. According to Narendra Modi, India intends to help implement the goals and objectives of Russia’s chairmanship. The leaders also touched on several other international issues, including the situation around Ukraine", the Kremlin also said.
Mr. Vladimir Putin and Mr. Narendra Modi agreed to continue their personal contact.
Where is India stand?
India-Iran relations span centuries marked by meaningful interactions. The two countries shared a border till 1947 and share several common features in their language, culture and traditions. Both South Asia and the Persian Gulf have strong commercial, energy, cultural and
people-to-people links.
Russia has been a longstanding and time-tested partner for India. Development of India-Russia relations has been a key pillar of India's foreign policy.
