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PM Modi in Russia from Wednesday with focus on 20th India-Russia summit, energy partnership 

WION
New Delhi Written By: Kartikeya SharmaUpdated: Sep 03, 2019, 07:49 PM IST
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File photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak while walking near the Constantine (Konstantinovsky) Palace in St Petersburg, Russia, June 1, 2017. Photograph:(Reuters)

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On the second day, Modi will speak at the plenary of the Eastern Economic Forum and attend a judo championship with Putin.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok from Wednesday for a 36-hour visit in which he will participate at the Eastern Economic Forum as one of the chief guests and the 20th annual India Russia summit that alternates between both the countries.

In his departure statement, PM Modi said India and Russia, "enjoy excellent relations, based on the strong foundation of our special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" and the "strong partnership is complemented by a desire to promote a multipolar world and the two countries closely cooperate towards this end in regional and multilateral fora."

On the first day, Modi along with Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit ‘Zvezda’ Shipbuilding Plant which makes vessels including icebreakers and oil tankers and ‘Street of the Far East’ exhibition. The first day will also see the annual India-Russia summit with both leaders holding bilateral talks. 

On the second day, Modi will speak at the plenary of the Eastern Economic Forum and attend a judo championship with Putin. A six-member Indian team is in Vladivostok to take part in the championship.

"I look forward to discussing with my friend President Putin the entire gamut of our bilateral partnership as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.", PM said.

India believes its engagement with Russian far east will help its Indo-pacific engagement and can help in shortage of manpower in that part of Russia. 

A fiver year road map (2019-2024) will be announced on hydrocarbon cooperation both in terms of purchase and exploration. COAL India and Steel Authority of India are will sign MoUs with there Russian counterpart for export of coking coal and cooperation in the mining sector.

Asked if Kamov Ka-226 or Ka 226 T --Russian utility helicopter contract will be signed, Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale in a briefing said, "As far as I am aware there will be no announcement regarding any specific agreements that have been reached"

An India-Russia business dialogue will take place and for this a 50-member delegation from FICCI is in the Russian city. 8 to 10 business MoUs will be signed during PM's visit. Previous Eastern Economic Forum, which was started in 2015 has seen high-level political representations by India.