The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Monday that Modi will travel to Sochi on May 21 for an informal summit to discuss wide-ranging issues with Putin.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will become the first head of state to travel to Russia since President Vladimir Putin took the oath of office for a fourth term last week.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Monday that Modi will travel to Sochi on May 21 for an informal summit to discuss wide-ranging issues with Putin.
Like his informal meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, the meeting with the Russian leader is said to be aimed at resetting the ties which, of late, have derailed over a variety of issues.
"This will be an important occasion for the two leaders to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective with the objective of further strengthening our special and privileged strategic partnership. Both leaders will also discuss their respective national developmental priorities and bilateral matters," said a statement from the MEA.
The summit comes at a time when an anti-US containment strategy has resulted in a strengthened Russia-Pakistan military cooperation. The Pakistan military is planning to purchase Sukhoi-35 fighter jets and T-90 tanks from Russia, almost marking an end to Moscow's close and historical relationship with India.
Earlier this month, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held talks with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow and discussed a host of issues. Doval, who was accompanied by foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale on the May 10 visit, is understood to have proposed this informal summit.
Meanwhile, a fortnight after the Modi-Xi meeting, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has launched the first India-dedicated publicly offered investment fund, urging the Chinese to invest heavily, stating that the Indian economy is entering the "golden age of economic take-off". Observers have termed the move significant to boost investments in India.
CRUCIAL TIME
The summit comes at a time when an anti-US containment strategy has resulted in a strengthened Russia-Pakistan military cooperation. The Pakistan military is planning to purchase Sukhoi-35 fighter jets and T-90 tanks from Russia
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