Ufa (Russia)

Russian President Vladimir Putin today pitched for increased cooperation with India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met him here for about 90-minutes, during which the two leaders discussed a host of issues, including market access issues and “challenges” to visa.

“I am looking forward to developing the cooperation (between the two countries),” Putin said during the meeting with Modi, soon after the Indian leader’s arrival here for a three-day visit to attend BRICS and SCO Summits.

He said he was very interested in Indian culture.

Modi, who is here primarily for BRICS and SCO Summits, thanked Putin for the welcome he got on his arrival earlier in the day.

The Prime Minister, while talking about the close relationship between India and Russia, said he will be visiting this country again later this year for the annual bilateral Summit meeting.

He thanked Putin with regard to the celebrations of Yoga Day on June 21 in Russia. He said it was held in all cities of Russia.

Yoga will provide holistic healthcare to the new generation in the world, Modi said.

In response, Putin said, “I do not know how to do yoga.

When you people do it, it looks difficult. That is why I have not tried it.

“There was a review of totality of the relations. There were fair discussions on economy and trade issues, market access and challenges in the area of visas. They also discussed the progress of FTA with Eurasian Economc Zone,” Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told reporters while briefing on the meeting.

The two leaders also reviewed cooperation in the fields of defence and civil nuclear, in which “Russia is an important partner” and talked about further possibilities, Jaishankar said.

Modi and Putin also reviewed the long-standing cooperation in hydrocarbons and connectivity, he said. .

To a question about Unit III and IV of Kudankulam Nuclear Plant being built by Russia in Tamil Nadu, Indian Ambassador P S Raghavan said work is in progress.

About Russia’s request for an alternate site for a proposed nuclear plant that was to be set up in Haripur in West Bengal but faced opposition from locals, Jaishankar said the issue was “actively and positively” reviewed.

The two leaders also discussed cooperation in the fields of trade and space.

Asked whether Modi took up the issue of Russia’s defence supplies to Pakistan, the Foreign Secretary said the discussions were confined to bilateral issues because of paucity of time.

PTI