India’s new leadership determined to advance cooperation with Russia - Putin

MOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has noted the Indian leadership’s wish to look for new promising guidelines for cooperation with Russia. He expressed the readiness to discuss specific steps to enhance bilateral cooperation during his visit to India due on Thursday, December 11. “I note with satisfaction the commitment of the Indian leadership to searching for new promising areas of cooperation,” Putin told the PTI news agency in an interview. “I am convinced that the common aspiration to further develop our bilateral relations will help to achieve significant results at the upcoming Indian-Russian Summit.” About the recent change of leadership in India Putin said that “relations between Russia and India have never been susceptible to momentary developments.” “At all historic times, regardless of political and public leaders, our countries remained reliable partners in deepening our multifaceted bilateral cooperation,” he said. Putin’s first meeting with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Brazil in July 2014. “We also had meaningful conversations in Brisbane (Australia) in November at the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the BRICS countries and during the G20 summit,” the Russian leader said. “I am convinced that we will continue this fruitful work together with the new government in order to expand our multifaceted and mutually beneficial contacts,” Putin said. “Especially given the fact that as far back as he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat state Mr. Modi visited several times the Astrakhan Region, which has since established fraternal relations with that Indian state.” “Today, we are happy to see friendly India to be led by a reputable political leader, who has already made a significant personal contribution to the promotion of the Russian-Indian cooperation,” Putin said. About his forthcoming visit to India on December 11 Putin said he was looking forward to discussing “specific steps aimed at strengthening the privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India.” Particular attention will be devoted to expanding trade and economic links and boosting mutual investments. On the list of joint strategic projects Putin noted the construction of new units for Indian nuclear power plants, promotion of Russian Sukhoi Superjet-100 and MS-21 aircraft to the Indian market, and introduction of the GLONASS system in the sectors of the Indian economy. “Our priorities include building a butyl rubber plant, helicopter manufacturing, creating ‘a smart city’ on the basis of Russian technologies, and organizing assembly of industrial tractors,” Putin added. There will be an exchange of views “on current international and regional issues and on deepening foreign policy coordination in order to further strengthen security and stability in Eurasia and in the whole world,” he said. “Of course, we will discuss in substance how to give a new impetus to the bilateral ties in the humanitarian sphere and increase contacts between the people of our countries.” Read more