Vladimir Putin: Russia to provide necessary support to India’s BRICS Chairship

President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi addressed the Russia–India Business Forum in New Delhi. The leaders presented a strategy for the qualitative growth of bilateral partnership. Its basis was the transition from trade to deep technological and industrial cooperation. This was reported on the President’s official website.

"Trade turnover continues to grow at a steady pace, and over the past three years the dynamics have been record-high – up to 80 per cent. As a result, last year the volume of Russia–India trade reached US$64 billion. [...] Following today's talks, we adopted the Programme for the Development of Russia–India Economic Cooperation. This comprehensive document is aimed at achieving the goal set with Mr Modi – to bring trade turnover to US$100 billion by 2030"

Vladimir Putin President of Russia

He stated that the share of national currencies in settlements between the countries had reached 96 per cent. For further strengthening of trade, Putin noted the importance of an early conclusion of a preferential agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union, which will be a logical step towards the creation of a full-fledged free trade zone.

Next year, India will chair BRICS. Vladimir Putin assured that Russia "will provide all necessary support to our Indian friends in their work on the current BRICS agenda." The sides agreed to intensify joint work on the climate agenda within the formats of the Group of Twenty, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and welcomed the launch of the BRICS Climate Research Platform and the specialised laboratory on trade and sustainable development.

However, as the President noted, in the cooperation between the two countries, "we need to go further": to improve industrial cooperation and strengthen technological alliances, primarily in such sectors as digitalisation, autonomous robotics and pharmaceuticals. The head of the Russian state emphasised that India holds leading positions in these fields.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the introduction of a free 30-day electronic tourist visa for Russian travellers. He stressed that cooperation between India and Russia is expanding and covering new areas, including maritime training in extreme climatic regions. His remarks were reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.

"Now we will also cooperate to train India's seafarers for operations in polar waters. This will not only give new strength to our cooperation in the Arctic but will also create new employment opportunities for India's youth," he noted.

Cooperation in the energy sector remains a key element of the India–Russia partnership, and Modi underscored the continuity of this interaction over decades.

"Energy security has been a strong and important pillar of the India-Russia partnership. Our decades-old cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy has played a key role in advancing our shared priorities on clean energy. We will continue this win-win cooperation"

Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India

He also noted the growing cooperation in critical minerals that are essential for clean technologies and modern manufacturing.

Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on a two-day state visit. As a result of the trip, 29 bilateral documents were signed in the fields of economy, trade, healthcare, education and media cooperation.

The TV BRICS media network signed a cooperation agreement with India’s leading public service broadcaster, Prasar Bharati. The partners agreed to supply each other with high-quality content and to create and promote interstate projects in the fields of mass communications, education, science and culture.

Photo: kremlin.ru