Russia, India reiterate intent to develop strategic partnership
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a phone conversation and stress the need to further develop their strategic partnership.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian PM Narendra Modi (Archive)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian PM Narendra Modi reiterated in a phone call their intent to further develop strategic partnership relations between their countries.
In a statement published by Kremlin on Monday, Putin "warmly thanked Narendra Modi for his hospitality rendered to the Russian delegation during a visit paid to New Delhi at the highest level on December 6."
"The sides discussed the practical issues of implementing the agreements reached following the results of the negotiations. They expressed the resolve to further develop the specially privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India comprehensively," the statement continued.
Putin and Modi also exchanged views on international stability and security, including the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, congratulating one another on the coming holidays and agreeing on raising bilateral contacts in a number of areas.
Russian S-400 to India
Earlier this month, India's Foreign Minister announced that Russia began delivering a number of S-400 ground-to-air missile defense systems, against which the US threatened to impose sanctions.
"Supplies have begun this month and will continue to happen," Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla confirmed after Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on December 6, during the "2 + 2" consultations, that Russia expressed India's deep concern over US activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Indian and Russian leaderships have a relationship of great trust, and a package of significant documents will be signed at the annual bilateral summit, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov said.
Lavrov added, after talks with his Indian counterpart Subramaniam Jaishankar, "both Russia and India have a similar worldview of a more polycentric, more multipolar, more equitable world order. We advocate similar or identical positions on the most important political and military issues."
