NEW DELHI, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed on Tuesday — at a meeting in Moscow — bilateral, regional and global issues including ongoing war in Ukraine and humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
A joint statement issued after talks between Modi, who concluded a two-day visit to Russia and proceeded to Austria, and Putin as part of the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit, said that both sides expressed satisfaction at the current level of cooperation.
They expressed satisfaction in strengthening and deepening of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries “in political and strategic, military and security, trade and investment, energy, science and technology, nuclear, space, cultural, education and humanitarian cooperation”.
Both the sides highlighted the imperative of peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through through dialogue and diplomacy including engagement between both parties.
Modi and Putin also appreciated prop
osals of mediation aimed at peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with relevant international law and UN Charter in its entirety and totality.
They also expressed deep concern over the situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Gaza. They demanded effective implementation of the UNGA resolutions and UNSC resolution 2720. In addition, they appealed for immediate and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilians throughout the Gaza Strip.
“They also called for the effective implementation of the UNSC resolution 2728 for a lasting sustainable ceasefire. They equally called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages as well as humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs.
“They reaffirmed their support for PalestineÂ’s full membership in the UN and reiterated their unwavering commitment to the principle of the two-state solution according to internationally accepted basis,” the joint statement said.
Both side
s expressed satisfaction at the growth of bilateral trade in 2023. The statement pointed out that last year’s trade was “around double of the bilateral trade target of USD 30 billion set by the leaders for 2025.” In their meeting, balance of trade came up for discussion and it was suggested that Indian exports to Russia should be increased “through strengthening industrial cooperation, forging new technological and investment partnerships, especially in advanced high-technology areas and finding new avenues and forms of cooperation”.
India and Russia agreed to intensify commercial and investment cooperation in the Far East and the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. They also agreed to strengthen transport and connectivity through building new architecture of stable and efficient transport corridors.
They agreed to focus on production and marketing chains in Eurasia and “expressed readiness to actively work to expand logistics links with an emphasis on increasing the capacity of infrastructure, including
for implementation of the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor and the International North-South Transport Corridor, as well as using the potential of the Northern Sea Route”.
Energy sector also came up for discussion and they reiterated the importance of robust cooperation in the field as a key pillar of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and agreed to explore new long term contracts in addition to maintaining the existing ones.
Modi and Putin also agreed to increase cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. “The sides welcomed the progress achieved in the construction of the remaining nuclear power plant units at Kudankulam and agreed on adhering to the schedule, including to the timelines for delivery of supplies. Both Sides noted the importance of further discussion on the second site in India in accordance with earlier signed agreements,” the statement said.
They underlined the important role military cooperation plays in the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnershi
p between the two countries. Both the leaders also agreed to cement ties in cultural cooperation, tourism, education and science and technology and people to people exchanges.
Source: Kuwait News Agency