Lavrov Announces Putin's Upcoming Visit to India, a Key Global Player
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Synopsis
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has announced that President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India soon, highlighting the dynamic political dialogue and mutual respect between the two nations. Lavrov emphasized the shared vision of a multipolar world and the historical significance of their bilateral relations.
Key Takeaways
- Putin's visit to India is being prepared for early 2025.
- India and Russia have a long-standing relationship marked by mutual respect.
- Trade between the two countries is set to reach $100 billion by 2030.
- Both nations advocate for a democratized international order.
- India's independent foreign policy is praised by Russia.
Moscow, Nov 27 (NationPress) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that the political dialogue between India and Russia is growing dynamically, aided by the shared perspectives of both nations on the emerging multipolar world order. He confirmed that arrangements are underway for President Vladimir Putin's imminent visit to India.
"The historical relationship between our nations has withstood numerous challenges. Currently, Russia and India are fostering equal partnerships grounded in sincere mutual respect and an understanding of each other's interests," Lavrov stated during the inaugural international conference ‘Russia and India: Towards a New Agenda for Bilateral Relations’, also attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
"The contributions of our leaders to this development are invaluable. It is significant that Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to visit Russia for his first bilateral foreign trip post-re-election last year. Now, it is our turn. President Putin has accepted the invitation from the Indian Prime Minister, and preparations are in motion for his visit to India," he added.
Earlier, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that Putin is anticipated to visit India in early 2025 at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi.
This visit is part of the ongoing commitment to annual meetings between the two leaders.
"Our leaders have agreed to meet annually. This time, it is our turn," Ushakov remarked during a press briefing.
The last visit by the Russian President to India occurred on December 6, 2021, during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi.
In contrast, PM Modi made two notable visits to Russia last year, attending the 22nd Russia-India Summit in July and subsequently participating in the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October.
During the Russia-India conference, Lavrov underscored the robust material foundation of bilateral relations.
"Our trade and economic collaboration is consistently expanding. We are successfully countering attempts by certain adversaries to obstruct this growth. In 2024, our bilateral trade turnover surpassed $60 billion, marking the highest achievement in our modern history. However, this is just the beginning. We are striving towards the target set by our leaders at last year’s July summit: to elevate trade turnover to $100 billion by 2030. This growth reflects not only the existing potential of Russian-Indian trade but also the significant interest from the business sectors of both nations in full development, including joint investment projects," he remarked.
The Russian Foreign Minister also stated that alongside India, Russia champions the democratization of international relations, advocating for a greater role for the Global South in economic governance and respect for the cultural identities of all peoples, allowing them to choose their own developmental paths.
"We greatly appreciate Indian diplomacy's ability to maintain an independent, multi-faceted foreign policy. We believe India rightfully deserves its status as one of the great powers of our era, a significant center in the multipolar world. We resonate with the Indian foreign policy principle that 'The whole world is a family', aimed at fostering international cooperation benefiting all humanity through balanced interests of all nations. We value our joint work in the UN, G20, BRICS, SCO, and other multilateral platforms," he continued.
"I would like to express our gratitude to the Russian side for the consistent balanced stance taken by India, particularly Prime Minister Modi, regarding the Ukrainian crisis, advocating for a resolution through dialogue and addressing the root causes of the conflict," he concluded.
