PM Modi receives Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi

In a rare diplomatic gesture underscoring the strong ties between India and Russia Prime Minister PM Narendra Modi personally received Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Delhi Airport on Thursday departing from standard protocolThe gesture highlights the strategic partnership and close rapport between the two leaders President Putin arrived in India on Thursday for a twoday state visitTheir last interaction took place at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO Summit in Tianjin China on September 1 where the bonhomie between the two leaders was evident PM Modi and President Putin had shared a car ride to the venue of their bilateral meeting in the Russian Presidentrsquos Aurus Senat Putin had waited for about 10 minutes for PM Modi to join him for the driveUpon landing in India President Putin received a ceremonial welcome reaffirming the strong diplomatic relationship between the two nations His visit comes at a time when Russia seeks to maintain global influence despite increasing Western isolationThe twoday engagement reflects Indiarsquos strategic balancing in global politics strengthening ties with Russia even as it manages its relationships with Western countries Key discussions are expected to cover the Ukraine conflict the situation in Afghanistan and ways to expand the IndiandashRussia Strategic PartnershipThis is President Putinrsquos first visit to India since 2021 and his first since Moscow launched its fullscale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 The visit is expected to revive momentum in trade defence cooperation and energy partnerships Delhi and Moscow are likely to sign multiple agreements coming months after the United States stepped up pressure on India to reduce its imports of Russian oilPutin is scheduled to receive a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday and lay a wreath at Rajghat He will later hold talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House followed by press statements He is also slated to attend a business event and thereafter meet President Droupadi MurmuAccording to government sources President Putinrsquos state visit will significantly bolster economic cooperation He is accompanied by a large delegation of business leaders India is working to reduce its trade deficit with Russia with several plans under discussion to increase Indian exportsmdashparticularly pharmaceuticals automobiles and agricultural and marine productsSources added that Indian businesses are expected to gain a larger market share in Russia contributing to job creation and supporting farmers Multiple agreements and MoUs are anticipated in the areas of shipping healthcare fertilisers and connectivityFurther collaboration is expected in peopletopeople ties mobility partnerships culture and scientific researchEarlier Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov had expressed confidence that Russia and India could achieve their joint target of USD 100 billion in trade turnover by 2030 citing rapid recent growth and expanding cooperation across sectorsPresident Putinrsquos visit also recalls his longstanding friendship with Prime Minister Modi which spans nearly 25 years In 2001 Modimdashthen the Chief Minister of Gujaratmdashhad accompanied then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to MoscowWith ANI inputs