PM Modi receives warm welcome from Indian diaspora in Moscow | External Affairs Defence & Security News

Russian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been on a two-day visit to Russia since Monday, has reached a hotel in Moscow. Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who met the prime minister at the airport, accompanied him to the hotel, where members of the Indian diaspora had gathered to welcome him.

Prime Minister Modi greeted the members of the Indian diaspora who were standing outside the Carlton Hotel to welcome him. He shook hands and interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora. He met children who were happy to see Prime Minister Modi.

People waved Indian flags and posters of Prime Minister Modi and chanted “Modi Modi” to welcome him to the hotel. Artists dressed in Indian costumes performed at the hotel to welcome Prime Minister Modi. In a rare gesture, Denis Manturov accompanied Prime Minister Modi from the airport to the hotel in the same car.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Moscow at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd annual India-Russia summit. He was received by the guard of honour at the VNUKOVO-II International Airport.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets children and interacts with members of the Indian diaspora gathered at the Carlton Hotel in Moscow
Prime Minister Modi is on a two-day official visit to Russia. pic.twitter.com/5EqG1vVs6H

ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2024

Upon arrival in Moscow, Prime Minister Modi said he wanted to further deepen the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between the two nations.

In a message posted on X, Prime Minister Modi said, “I have landed in Moscow. I look forward to further deepening the special and privileged strategic partnership between our nations, especially in futuristic areas of cooperation. Stronger ties between our nations will greatly benefit our people.”

Prime Minister Modi and Russian President will meet today. Prime Minister Modi will attend a community event in Moscow on Tuesday. He left New Delhi on Monday for a two-nation visit, starting with Moscow.

In a message posted on X, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-country visit to Russia and Austria. The first leg of his visit will take him to Moscow for the 22nd annual India-Russia summit. An opportunity to further accelerate the partnership.”

In his farewell statement, Prime Minister Modi said, “In the next three days, I will be in Russia and Austria. These visits will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen ties with these nations, with which India shares a time-tested friendship. I also look forward to interacting with the Indian community living in these countries.”

Prime Minister Modi said he is keen to discuss aspects of bilateral cooperation with his friend President Putin.

“I look forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and exchanging views on various regional and global issues. We are keen to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region. This visit will also give me an opportunity to meet the vibrant Indian community in Russia,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Modi added that the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia has progressed over the last decade, particularly in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

It is worth noting that Prime Minister Modi and Putin have met 16 times in the last 10 years. The last in-person meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in 2022. In 2019, Prime Minister Modi was awarded Russia's highest state award, the “Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew I”.

Earlier on Sunday, Indian Ambassador to India Vinay Kumar said, “The programme includes a private meeting with President Putin, delegation-level talks, restricted talks, lunch hosted by President Putin for the Prime Minister and his delegation, a visit to an exhibition centre at the VDNKH complex, the Rosatom pavilion, and an exchange of documents which we are preparing to sign and exchange during the visit.”

“The Prime Minister will also address a gathering of members of the Indian community who are eagerly awaiting this visit of the Prime Minister to Moscow after a gap of nine years. The last visit of the Prime Minister to Moscow was in 2015. So these are some of the important elements of the programme,” he added.

India and Russia have enjoyed mutually beneficial and time-tested diplomatic relations for over 77 years. The relations between the two countries were elevated to the level of 'Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership' in 2010.

After concluding his visit to Russia, Prime Minister Modi will leave for Austria, which will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 40 years.

In his farewell statement, Prime Minister Modi said, “In Austria, I will have the opportunity to meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Austria is our loyal and reliable partner and we share the ideals of democracy and pluralism.

First published: July 08, 2024 | 8:04 p.m. EAST