Prime Minister Narendra Modi was tonight hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin for a private tete-a-tete at the Kremlin a day ahead of the two countries’ bilateral meet on Thursday.
The meeting took place hours after Modi arrived in to a red carpet welcome. Putin also hosted a private dinner for Modi.
Modi and Putin will hold 16th India-Russia annual summit talks on Thursday at the Kremlin following which the two sides are expected to sign a number of pacts to expand cooperation in a number of key areas including defence, nuclear energy, hydrocarbons and trade.
The talks between the two countries, bound by “special and privileged strategic ties”, have been taking place alternately in Moscow and New Delhi since 2000.
Expectations From Modi’s Visit to Russia
In the nuclear energy sector, India is expected to offer a site in Andhra Pradesh to set up units five and six of Kudankulam nuclear power plant.
The new plants will be in sync with broad principles of ‘Make in India’ initiative and a decision in this regard is likely to be finalised on Thursday.
It is expected that both countries will seal a number of defence deals as well.
Last week, India’s Defence Ministry’s top acquisition council had cleared the purchase of Russian S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems at an estimated cost of Rs 40,000 crore and there may be an announcement of the deal on Thursday besides a few others.
Besides bilateral issues, Modi and Putin are likely to deliberate on a number of global issues having political dimensions including the situation in Syria and ways to tackle terrorism.
It will be Modi’s second summit with Putin who had travelled to New Delhi last year for the 15th India-Russia Summit.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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