(Image source from: Apnews.com)
Russia and India are determined to elevate their bilateral relations to unprecedented heights, with Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled to visit India in the near future, as announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. In a televised statement today, he confirmed, "Preparations are underway for the President's visit." Mr. Lavrov noted that "Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his initial foreign trip to Russia following his re-election for a third consecutive term. Now, it is our initiative." He mentioned, "Arrangements are being put together for President Vladimir Putin's visit to India," although he did not disclose the specific date or month for the upcoming trip. During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Russia last year, he extended an invitation for a state visit to the Russian leader. "President Vladimir Putin has accepted the invitation from the Indian Prime Minister. A visit by the Russian President to India is on the agenda," Mr. Lavrov stated.
Lavrov's comments were made during a conference on "Russia and India: Toward a New Bilateral Agenda," organized by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). This forthcoming visit would mark President Putin’s first trip to India since the onset of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. The meeting is anticipated to advance President Putin's "new economic roadmap" for the year 2030. Both nations have committed to doubling their bilateral trade to exceed $100 billion each year. They are also collaborating to greatly enhance trade routes between the two countries. The Chennai-Vladivostok maritime trade corridor is expected to play a significant role in facilitating the flow of goods from Russia to India. Currently, the annual trade volume between the two nations stands at around $60 billion.
Earlier this week, Sergey Lavrov reiterated that Moscow aims to fundamentally reshape its partnership with New Delhi. He expressed that Russia seeks to enhance its existing relationships and establish a "special and privileged strategic partnership" with India. In a recent communication to President Droupadi Murmu, President Putin remarked, "Relations between Russia and India are founded on a special and privileged strategic partnership. I am confident that through our collaborative efforts, we will steadily strengthen productive bilateral cooperation across all sectors, as well as foster constructive engagement in international matters. This undoubtedly serves the core interests of our friendly nations and aligns with the pursuit of a fair, multipolar international system."
