INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday (8) reached Russia on a two-day visit, his first to the country in five years and since the outbreak of Moscow's war in Ukraine.
He was set to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin on the first day and hold talks over various issues. The Indian prime minister will attend the 22nd annual bilateral summit with the leadership of the time-tested ally.
Ahead of his departure from India, Modi said in a statement that he was looking forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with his "friend" Putin and sharing perspectives on various issues -- both regional and global.
Modi, who boarded a flight from New Delhi at 10.30 am local time, reached Moscow's Vnukovo-II International Airport around 5.10 pm local time. He was received by the host country's first deputy prime minister, Denis Manturov.
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Manturov is senior to Russia's deputy prime minister who received Chinese president X Jinping during his recent visit to Moscow. The first deputy PM also accompanied Modi to the hotel from the airport in the same car, a gesture that many observers of international politics held to be significant enough.
After reaching Moscow, Modi posted on X in both English and Russian, saying, "Landed in Moscow. Looking 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." He also posted of him meeting Manturov.
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The Indian PM was also given a guard of honour by the Russian forces. Modi also said before his departure that he was looking forward to engaging with the Indian community in Russia and Austria, the other country he will visit during this trip. Modi in fact will be the first Indian premier to pay a visit to Austria in 41 years, after Indira Gandhi in 1983.
"Over the next three days, will be in Russia and Austria. These visits will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen ties with these nations, with whom India has time tested friendship. I also look forward to interacting with the Indian community living in these countries," Modi tweeted.
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