Vladimir Putin arrives in India on state visit

President of Russia Vladimir Putin has arrived in India for a two-day state visit. The government aircraft landed in New Delhi on Thursday evening. This was reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi personally welcomed the Russian leader at the aircraft ramp, which is not provided for by standard protocol and demonstrates a special attitude towards the guest. After the ceremonial welcome, the two leaders travelled in the same car to an informal dinner meeting at Modi’s residence.

The main talks are scheduled for Friday. President Putin and Prime Minister Modi will hold meetings in restricted and expanded formats at the Hyderabad House. It is expected that the visit will result in the signing of around ten intergovernmental agreements and more than fifteen memoranda between commercial and non-commercial organisations of the two countries. Key topics will include strengthening trade and economic cooperation, including the goal of increasing bilateral trade to US$100 billion by 2030, and energy partnership.

A separate meeting will also take place between the President of Russia and the President of India Droupadi Murmu.

The visit is taking place as part of the 23rd annual Russia–India summit. Relations between the countries have the status of a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”. The Russian delegation includes, in particular, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, Minister of Economic Development Maksim Reshetnikov, Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut, Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko, Governor of the Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina, as well as the heads of major companies. Minister of Economic Development Reshetnikov stated Moscow’s interest in increasing supplies of Indian goods to improve the balance of growing bilateral trade.

During the visit it was also announced that India would expand its media cooperation within BRICS. At the upcoming Russia–India Business Forum, the TV BRICS International Media Network and India’s leading state broadcasting corporation, Prasar Bharati, will sign a cooperation agreement. The document provides for content exchange and joint work on shaping an objective information agenda of the group.

The last personal meeting between Putin and Modi took place at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin (China) on 1 September.

Photo: the personal page of the Prime Minister of India on social media