In an oblique reference to Pakistan Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said both India and Russia were against outside influence in internal matters of any nation while addressing a joint press conference with President Vladimir Putin.
“We both are against outside influence in internal matters of any nation,” Modi said at the joint press meet in Vladivostok, where India and Russia signed 15 MoUs for cooperation in connectivity, oil and gas, deep-sea exploration, space, energy and others.
PM Modi’s remarks came in the backdrop of Pakistan ratcheting up the rhetoric on Kashmir and seeking to internationalise the issue after the government on August 5 scrapped the special status of J&K under Article 370.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a joint press briefing with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia on September 4, 2019.
#WATCH live from Vladivostok, Russia: PM Narendra Modi addresses, as the Russian President and he release a joint press statement. https://t.co/FdFuoTs9aT
— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2019
A proposal has been made to have a full-fledged maritime route that will serve as a link between Chennai and Vladivostok, said Modi. He also stressed at the cooperation on nuclear technology. Crude import is also in focus at the joint meet. During the press meet, Modi invited Putin to visit India at the Annual Summit next year.
Putin, on the other hand, said that both the leaders have been in constant touch. He mentioned that the Russian military and its technical cooperation with India will be further enhanced. He furthered that Russia will be part of India’s navy modernisation.
Modi also said: “We have dozens of business agreements. In the field of defence, there is an agreement to make spare parts of Russian equipment in India. At the beginning of the year, the AK 203 joint venture agreement is giving a solid foundation to co-manufacturing. We are taking our relationship to the states of India and other regions of Russia in terms of capitals”.
The two nations also signed a bilateral agreement on space exploration. India and Russia signed thirteen MoUs as PM Modi and President Putin concluded their talks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Russia, has said that the trip will give “a new direction, new energy and new speed” to relations between the two countries.
To be the first Indian prime minister to visit the Russian Far East Region, Modi arrived in Vladivostok on Wednesday to participate in the 20th India-Russia annual summit and the fifth meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).
“Honoured to be the first-ever Indian PM to be coming to Vladivostok. I thank my friend, President Putin for inviting me here. I remember the Annual Summit of 2001, the first one held in Russia when Mr Putin was President and I had come in Atalji’s delegation as Gujarat CM,” Narendra Modi said.
Earlier, the Indian community had welcomed Modi at the airport upon reaching Russia. Modi was given a guard of honour at the airport itself. On reaching Vladivostok, Modi said that where new stories of human development are being written in the 21st century. I am very happy to come to such a place, said Modi.
The camaraderie between the two leaders was once again on display on Wednesday when Putin took PM Modi on a tour of the Zvezda shipbuilding complex in Vladivostok.
Deeply touched by President Putin’s gracious gesture to accompany me to Zvezda shipyard, which is poised to make a huge contribution to development of Arctic shipping. pic.twitter.com/vyUENhl0QL
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2019
Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Vladivostok, Russia. Modi will participate in the EES Thursday along with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin has called Modi as the chief guest at the summit.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted the pictures from the visit.
Zdravstvuyte Rossiya!
PM @narendramodi was warmly welcomed at Vladivostok airport on his 3rd bilateral visit to Russia. Over the next 2 days, bilateral meeting with President Putin, participation at Eastern Economic Forum & meetings with other world leaders on the agenda. pic.twitter.com/x8NnoUjdUI
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) September 3, 2019
Before departing for Russia, Modi said he looked forward to discussing regional and international issues of mutual interest with President Putin.
