India- Stronger Russia defence ties sought

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) India is keen to deepen its strategic partnership with Russia in defence, nuclear energy, trade and investment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in Brazil and invited him to visit the Kudankulam nuclear plant during his visit to India later this year.

Modi, who met Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at Fortaleza on Tuesday, expressed appreciation for Russia's friendship and unstinting bilateral and international support for India's economic development and security since the early days of India's Independence, said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

During the meeting, Modi reaffirmed that relations with Russia will continue to enjoy the priority that they always had in India's foreign policy.

Modi said he looked forward to working with Putin to deepen and broad-base the strategic partnership, including in the areas of defence, nuclear energy, space, trade and investment, people-to-people contacts and addressing regional and global challenges.

The PMO statement said Modi conveyed his sincere appreciation of Putin's decisive leadership in deepening and expanding the "India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership".

Putin congratulated Modi on his victory in India's general elections.

The two leaders said they looked forward to their annual summit in New Delhi in December 2014 as an opportunity to outline a bold vision and road map for their relationship in the years ahead, the statement added. Modi said he looked forward to visiting Russia in 2015.