Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-day visit to Russia, marking the first leg of his two-nation tour. Upon his arrival in Moscow, PM Modi was received by Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who accompanied him from the airport to The Carlton Hotel, where members of the Indian diaspora had gathered to welcome him warmly.
As PM Modi greeted the enthusiastic crowd outside the hotel, he shook hands, interacted with the diaspora, and met with children who were delighted to see him. The welcoming ceremony featured artists dressed in traditional Indian attire performing to honor the Prime Minister. People waved Indian flags and held posters of PM Modi while chanting "Modi, Modi" to show their support.
In a rare gesture of camaraderie, Denis Manturov accompanied PM Modi to the hotel in the same car, underscoring the close ties between India and Russia. PM Modi arrived in Moscow at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to participate in the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Upon his arrival at Vnukovo-II International Airport, he was accorded a Guard of Honour.
Expressing his anticipation for the visit, PM Modi tweeted, "Landed in Moscow. Looking forward to further deepening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our nations, especially in futuristic areas of cooperation. Stronger ties between our nations will greatly benefit our people."
During his visit, PM Modi will hold a crucial meeting with President Putin, where they will discuss various aspects of bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues. The Prime Minister will also attend a community event in Moscow on Tuesday. He departed from New Delhi on Monday, with his tour set to continue in Austria after Russia.
The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the significance of the visit in a post on X, stating, "PM Narendra Modi sets off on a 2-nation visit to Russia and Austria. The first leg of the visit takes him to Moscow for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. An opportunity to further accelerate - partnership."
In his departure statement, PM Modi remarked, "Over the next three days, I will be in Russia and Austria. These visits will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen ties with these nations, with whom India has time-tested friendship. I also look forward to interacting with the Indian community living in these countries."
PM Modi emphasized the importance of his discussions with President Putin, stating, "I look forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues. We seek to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region. The visit will also provide me with an opportunity to meet the vibrant Indian community in Russia."
Highlighting the progress in India-Russia relations, PM Modi noted that the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership has advanced over the past decade, encompassing areas such as energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. Notably, PM Modi and President Putin have met 16 times over the past ten years, with their last in-person meeting taking place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in 2022.
India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, outlined the key elements of PM Modi's program, including private meetings with President Putin, delegation-level talks, a visit to the VDNKH Complex's Rosatom Pavilion, and an address to the Indian community in Moscow. This visit marks the first Prime Ministerial visit to Moscow in nine years, with the last visit occurring in 2015.
Following his visit to Russia, PM Modi will travel to Austria, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 40 years. In Austria, PM Modi is scheduled to meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Karl Nehammer. "Austria is our steadfast and reliable partner, and we share the ideals of democracy and pluralism," PM Modi stated.
