New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Sochi in Russia today for an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the city of Sochi.

Russian news agency Tass reported: Russia and India maintain a high strategic level of partnership, with close cooperation between the two countries’ defense ministries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday at a meeting with visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Our Defense Ministries maintain very close contacts and cooperation. It speaks about a very high strategic level of our partnership,” Putin said, also hailing joint activities of the two countries in the area of foreign politics, in particular within the United Nations, BRICS (an association of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

And this is how close friends meet! PM @narendramodi with Russian President Putin on his arrival at Bocharev Creek in #Sochi for the bilateral meeting. Pictures reflecting our deep and long standing ties! pic.twitter.com/dt5lty2K6D

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 21, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's Sochi (ANI) pic.twitter.com/B0leohOwVP

— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) May 21, 2018

Relationship characterised by deep trust, mutual respect and immense goodwill! Russian President #Putin warmly welcomed PM @narendramodi at Bocharev Creek in #Sochi ahead of the delegation-level talks. pic.twitter.com/dOKaHE61VV

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 21, 2018

Earlier

Ahead of his departure to Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in a statement said, “Greetings to the friendly people of Russia. I look forward to my visit to Sochi tomorrow and my meeting with President Putin. It is always a pleasure to meet him.”

The PM had said, I am confident the talks with President Putin will further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.”

The informal summit between the two leaders, which, has a broad-based agenda on global and regional issues, is expected to see the discussions on global terrorism, situation in Afghanistan-Pakistan, Syria, Islamic State (IS), the agency said in its report quoting sources.

Large part of the informal meeting is one to one and a restricted delegation-level meeting is likely.

During the summit, the Indo-Russian cooperation in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and association of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) is likely to come as well.

The two leaders may also discuss the India-Russia civil nuclear cooperation in third countries.

Most part of the five-hour engagement is one to one. Both the leaders will also exchange views on their domestic priorities.

The informal interaction has no specific agenda and is very flexible. No regular protocol will be practiced, the sources said.
President Putin will also host lunch for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This will be an important occasion for the two leaders to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective with the objective of further strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), issued on May 14, read.

The statement added this informal summit in Sochi, between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin, is in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest levels.

According to the statement, the summit is taking place at the invitation of Putin.

“There are plans to discuss key issues developing Russian-Indian very privileged strategic partnership and also to exchange views on vital issues of the international and regional agenda,” the Russian news agency TASS reported citing, the Kremlin press service, as saying in a statement.
This will be the first meeting between Putin and Modi this year, however, since the beginning of the year, the two leaders have had several phone conversations.

This comes barely a month after when Prime Minister Modi attended a two-day informal summit along with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan city.

Visit of Prime Minister to Russia (May 21, 2018)

May 14, 2018 statement by MEA:

-At the invitation of Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Russia on 21 May 2018 for an informal Summit with President Putin in the city of Sochi.

-This will be an important occasion for the two leaders to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective with the objective of further strengthening our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Both leaders will also discuss their respective national developmental priorities and bilateral matters.

-This informal Summit in Sochi between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin is in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest levels.