India and Russia reviewed the entire gamut of their robust bilateral ties during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit there this week from December 25-29. The visit provided an opportunity to review ongoing bilateral cooperation and examine ways to further bolster the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, according to a Ministry of External Affairs(MEA)statement here on Saturday.
Giving details, it said in Moscow, External Affairs Minister called on President Vladimir Putin and held discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov.
Jaishankar had comprehensive exchange of views on bilateral cooperation in trade and economic, energy, defence, connectivity, cultural and people to people exchanges, and cooperation between regions of the two countries. He also shared perspectives on global and regional developments including multilateral cooperation.
Three documents relating to the Kudan Kulam Nuclear Power Plants, an MoU on cooperation in pharmaceuticals and healthcare and a Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations were signed during the visit.
He interacted with Russian think-tanks and academics and exchanged views on Indian foreign policy perspectives as well as Russia-India relations. The rich contribution of cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges in enhancing the goodwill and friendship between India and Russia was reflected in Jaishankar’s interaction with the Indian diaspora in Moscow.
In Saint Petersburg, he met Governor Alexander Beglov and discussed possibilities of cooperation in the economic and cultural field. He had a discussion with a diverse cross section of Indologists at the Saint Petersburg University. Views were exchanged on how to enhance a better direct understanding and appreciation of developments in the two countries.
He also interacted with teachers and students at School No. 653 named after Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, a premier Russian government school which teaches Hindi as part of its regular curriculum.
India-Russia relations have remained strong and steady building upon strategic convergences, geopolitical interests, and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
