New Delhi, May 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday morning left for Russia’s Sochi for an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The informal summit between the two leaders, which has a broad-based agenda on global and regional issues, is expected to see the discussions on global terrorism, situation in Afghanistan-Pakistan, Syria and Islamic State (IS).
Indian envoy to Russia Pankaj Saran on Sunday exclusively told ANI that the two leaders would discuss mutual cooperation to improve each other’s economy and influence in the international sphere.
Apart from holding bilateral talks on the entire gamut of bilateral relations, Saran said Modi and Putin might also discuss the repercussions of the Iran nuclear deal post the withdrawal of the United States from it.
Since India and Russia are both victims of terrorism, the two sides will also discuss ISIS threat and the situation in Afghanistan and Syria.
Modi will be received by local dignitaries at the airport. He is then scheduled to visit the residence resort of President Putin.
According to sources, a large part of the informal meeting is one-on-one and a restricted delegation-level meeting is likely.
During the summit, the Indo-Russian cooperation in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and association of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) are likely to come as well.
The two leaders may also discuss the India-Russia civil nuclear cooperation in third world countries.
Most part of the five-hour engagement is one-on-one. Both the leaders will also exchange views on their domestic priorities.
The informal interaction has no specific agenda and is very flexible. No regular protocol would be practised, sources said.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister took to Twitter saying his visit would strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between two countries.
“Greetings to the friendly people of Russia. I look forward to my visit to Sochi tomorrow and my meeting with President Putin. It is always a pleasure to meet him,” he tweeted.
“Am confident the talks with President Putin will further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia,” he said in another tweet.
This will be an important occasion for the two leaders to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective with the objective of further strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), issued on May 14, read.
