New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday at Hyderabad House in the capital, where the two leaders discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas such as the economy, defence and trade.
Earlier that day, President Putin paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, laying a wreath while Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stood nearby.
He was also welcomed with a guard of honour in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Putin’s itinerary for the day remains full. He is set to attend a business event later, followed by an evening banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.
At Bharat Mandapam, the Russian leader will take part in a business forum aimed at boosting commercial and investment links. In the evening, he will join a banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by President Murmu.
The State Visit began on Thursday evening, when PM Modi made a personal gesture, greeting the President at the airport and accompanying him from the tarmac in the same vehicle.
PM Modi also presented a Russian‑language copy of the Bhagavad Gita to President Putin, describing the scripture as a source of inspiration for people worldwide.
On X, Modi posted a photo of handing over the Russian edition of the Gita, adding, “Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world.”
This visit follows PM Modi’s July 2024 trip to Moscow, during which the Russian leader hosted him at Novo‑Ogaryovo. The successive high‑level meetings reinforce the momentum in bilateral relations, with both nations framing their partnership as stable, durable and strategically indispensable.
Russia has long been a tested partner for India. Strengthening India‑Russia relations has been a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy. Since the signing of the “Declaration on the India‑Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000, ties between the two countries have reached a new qualitative level, with deepened cooperation in nearly all sectors—including political, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, culture, and people‑to‑people links.
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