New Delhi: Edited by Safeena Arfat Fatima, 5 December Posted on 10:55 PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his two-day visit to India as he departed from Delhi on Friday. The 23rd annual India–Russia summit, co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, outlined a renewed multi-dimensional partnership.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar saw President Putin off at the airport after a series of high-level meetings between the two nations. The leaders agreed to expand cooperation beyond traditional defence ties, placing stronger focus on economic, agricultural, energy and workforce-related collaboration.
Both sides set an ambitious target of achieving USD 100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 and committed to expediting negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement. Russia also agreed to receive skilled workers trained in India according to industry requirements, while both countries will coordinate to curb illegal labour movement.
A major highlight of the summit was President Putin’s assurance of uninterrupted oil and gas supply to India, reflecting the evolving strategic trust between the nations. The leaders also reiterated their joint stance on counter-terrorism, calling for “zero tolerance” at the global level.
In total, 16 agreements were signed and four key announcements were made, including:
- India to grant 30-day e-Visa for Russian tourists
- Group tourism visa for Russian citizens
- Strengthening food safety and export quality mechanisms
- Green signal for an Indian company to set up a fertilizer plant in Russia
The summit showcased a renewed strategic direction for the two countries amid shifting global geopolitics, underscoring their “special and privileged strategic partnership.