Putin concluses two-day India visit, Flies home after Rashtrapati Bhavan banquet

New Delhi: Russian President Valdimir Putin left Delhi on Friday evening after attending a banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan where he was welcomed by Indian President Droupadi Murmu. Putin was on a two-day India visit, first in four years, where he held bilateral trade talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed several key issues. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the two leaders also discussed the proposed free trade agreement that is under discussion between India and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Here are some highlights from Putin’s two-day India visit:
In a big push for India-Russia nuclear energy cooperation, Putin and Modi discussed the possibility of building a second nuclear power plant with Russian-designed reactors, with the Indian side committing to allocate a site for the project, Bloomberg reported.
In the backdrop of Putin’s India visit Russia proposed that India localize the production of the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 on its territory, news agency Reuters reported, quoting Sergei Chemezov, CEO of the Russian state corporation Rostec.
Putin also praised PM Modi’s leadership and initiatives as he said India is becoming technologically sovereign. He said India is pursuing an independent and sovereign policy under the leadership of PM Modi and achieving very good results, noting that the Indian economy is one of the fastest-growing in the world.
Putin and Modi participated in the India-Russia Business Forum on Friday, after their talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi as Putin is on his two-day India visit, first in four years. At the forum, PM Modi said the countries can have joint ventures in manufacturing electric vehicles. Modi also said discussions have begun on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Eurasian Economic Union.
Putin and Modi also delivered a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after talks at Hyderabad house in New Delhi on Friday.
Assuring ‘uninterrupted fuel’ supply to India, Putin said that Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and “everything that is required for the development of India’s energy. This comes amid growing pressure on New Delhi from the US to cut down on oil trade with Russia.
Putin and Modi announced that India and Russia have finalised an economic cooperation program until 2030 with an aim to diversify mutual businesses to boost annual trade to $100 billion by 2030. The two leaders also emphasised strong energy ties.
Putin said that work is underway on an agreement for India to establish a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union, adding that it could help increase trade.
“Over the past eight decades, the world has witnessed numerous ups and downs. Humanity has had to pass through many challenges and crises. And amidst all this, the India-Russia friendship has remained steadfast like a pole star,” Modi said.
Modi also talked about terrorism threat in India and said the two countries have long been standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight against the menace. “Whether it is the terrorist attack in Pahalgam or the cowardly assault on the Crocus City Hall -” the root of all these incidents is the same,” he said. “India’s unwavering belief is that terrorism is a direct assault on the values of humanity and that global unity against it is our greatest strength,” he added.
Modi said India-Russia cooperation in the critical minerals sector is crucial for ensuring secure and diversified supply chains across the entire world.
Modi also announced that India will soon start issuing free electronic visas for Russian tourists and groups visiting the country.
Putin received an assortment of gifts from PM Modi which includes Kashmiri saffron, Assam tea, ornate silver tea set, a silver horse, marble chess set and Bhagvad Gita in Russian language.