Your Excellency,
President of Russian Federation and my close friend,
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin,
Respected delegates of both the countries,
Hello,
Dobryy Den,
I am very happy to welcome President Putin and his delegation to India for the 19thAnnual Summit.
We are welcoming you as the President of a country with whom we have unique relations. You have made invaluable personal contribution for these relations.
The memories of the informal summit held in Sochi by President Putin are fresh in my mind. That special visit gave us an opportunity to openly discuss things.
Excellency,
India gives top priority to its relations with Russia. In this rapidly changing world our relations have become more relevant.
Our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership has consistently received new energy and direction from the continuous series of nineteen summits. And our cooperation on global issues has acquired new meaning and goals.
Our cooperation has got a strategic direction from your visit. Today, we have made important decisions which, in the long run, will make our relations more strong.
From human resource development to natural and energy resources, from trade to investment, from the peaceful cooperation of nuclear energy to solar energy, from technology to tiger conservation, from arctic to far East, and from sea to space, there will be
an even greater expansion of India-Russia relations. This expansion will take our cooperation ahead of the few selected areasof the past.
Also, the important pillars of our relationships will become much stronger.
Russia has always been with us in the development journey of India. The next goal in our space journey is to send an Indian astronaut in Gaganyaan. I am very happy that you have assured full cooperation of Russia in this mission.
The youth have the ability to rejuvenate the future of our countries. I am happy that the talented children of India and Russia will demonstrate their innovative ideas this afternoon. These ideas have been brainstormed by them together.
We welcome the participation of Russia in Flagship programs of India and in the wider opportunities of business present here. I am also happy that after some time we will participate in the India-Russia Business Summit. Around 200 major economic entrepreneurs
from both countries are participating in this summit.
India and Russia have been cooperating closely in all international issues of mutual interest. President Putin and I also had detailed discussions on these issues.
India and Russia are unanimous in strengthening multi-polarity and multilateralism in this rapidly changing world. Both our countries have common interests in cooperating on terrorism, developments in Afghanistan and Indo-pacific, climate change, regional organizations
like SCO, BRICS and multilateral organizations like the G20 and ASEAN. We have agreed to continue our beneficial cooperation and coordination in international institutions.
I am very impressed by the steps taken by President Putin for the development of the Far East of Russia. India is ready to cooperate in this field.
The decisions taken today will further enhance our cooperation and contribute to the restoration of peace and stability in this challenging world.
Brothers& sisters,
The source of the power of the relations between India and Russia is the goodwill and friendship of ordinary residents for each other. Today we discussed many such things which will strengthen people to people connect and increase their understanding, especially
of young people. This will create a new foundation for the future of India-Russia relations.
Friends,
I can honestly say that India-Russia friendship is unique in itself. I am confident that President Putin’s commitmentwill give more energy to these relations. And our trust and friendship will be further strengthened and our special and privileged Strategic
Partnership will scale new heights.
Thank you.
Spasiba.
Disclaimer: PM’s Speech was delivered in Hindi. This is an approximate translation of Speech.
New Delhi
October 05, 2018