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As part of preparations for the visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Monday.
“For me, this special occasion is all the more significant as we prepare for President Putin’s visit to India for the 23rd annual summit,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks at the meeting.
“A number of bilateral agreements, initiatives and projects are under discussion in various sectors. We expect their finalization in the coming days,” he said.
“These will certainly add more substance and texture to our special and privileged strategic partnership,” he said.
Jaishankar in his remarks also said that India supports recent efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He said, “India supports recent efforts towards establishing peace. We hope that all parties will constructively reach that goal.”
“It is in the interest of the entire international community to ensure a speedy end to the conflict and lasting peace,” he said.
Jaishankar said that India-Russia relations have long been a factor of stability in international relations.
“Its growth and development is not only in our mutual interest but also in the interest of the world,” he said.
The two sides also exchanged views on global issues.
Jaishankar said in his remarks, “We will exchange views on the complex global situation with the openness that has always characterized our relations. This includes the Ukraine conflict, the Middle East and Afghanistan, among other issues.”
The Foreign Minister is currently in Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart Lavrov. His visit is also being seen as part of the preparations for Putin’s visit.
The Russian President is expected to visit India around December 5 to hold the annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The summit is expected to yield important results to further strengthen bilateral strategic relations.
At the India-Russia annual summit, Modi and Putin are expected to discuss further expanding the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between the two countries.
India and Russia have a mechanism whereby the Prime Minister of India and the Russian President hold a summit meeting annually to review the entire gamut of relations.
So far, 22 annual summit meetings have been held alternately in India and Russia.
In July last year, PM Modi had visited Moscow for the annual summit.
Russia has been a time-tested partner for India and the country has been a key pillar of New Delhi’s foreign policy.