New Delhi, Dec 5 (NationPress) President Droupadi Murmu on Friday hosted her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the illustrious Rashtrapati Bhavan, a significant milestone in the 25-year journey of the India-Russia Strategic Partnership.

Putin, who arrived with his delegation for the annual summit-level discussions, was greeted at a banquet where President Murmu emphasized the “steadfast” nature of their relationship, asserting that it would “continue to flourish for many years to come”.

The Indian President highlighted that Putin's visit coincides with the silver jubilee of their strategic partnership, initially established during his first trip to New Delhi as President in October 2000, and later elevated to a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership in 2010.

President Murmu expressed gratitude to Vladimir Putin for his “consistent support and personal commitment” to their relationship, noting that the partnership is founded on shared aspirations for peace, stability, and mutual socio-economic and technological advancement. She remarked that 2025 has been particularly fruitful across diverse areas such as high-level political exchanges, trade, defense, civil nuclear collaboration, space, science and technology, education, culture, and people-to-people interactions.

She also pointed out that the Joint Statement released at the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit encapsulates the depth of their partnership and outlines a comprehensive roadmap for the future.

In her address, President Murmu referenced the long-standing civilizational connections between the two nations, from early travelers and trade relations to the celebrated correspondence between Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy — highlighting that both cultures have cherished one another’s artistic, literary, and cultural traditions.

Both leaders conveyed confidence that the partnership — grounded in decades of political trust and profound public goodwill — will only strengthen in the future.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin was honored with a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday.

President Droupadi Murmu and President Putin introduced each other to dignitaries from both nations at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Prior to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Murmu welcomed President Putin at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Putin began his state visit to India on Thursday evening and received a warm welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who greeted him at the airport and accompanied him from the tarmac in the same vehicle.