India wants to deepen ties with Russia: Modi

Fortaleza (Brazil)/New Delhi, July 16 (IANS) India is keen to further deepen and broad-base its strategic partnership with Russia, including in defence, nuclear energy, trade and investment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in Brazil.

Modi, who met Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at Fortaleza 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, a press statement said.

Modi reaffirmed that relations with Russia will continue to enjoy the priority that they always had in India’s foreign policy and that he looks forward to working with Putin to further deepen and broad-base the strategic partnership, including in the areas of defence, nuclear energy, space, energy, trade and investment, people-to-people contacts and addressing regional and global challenges.

The two leaders looked forward to their annual summit in New Delhi in December 2014 as an opportunity to outline a bold vision and roadmap for their relationship in the years ahead, the statement added.

Modi said he looked forward to visiting Russia in 2015.