… When PM Modi visited Russia as Prime Minister 23 years ago, he also met Putin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has toured 2 European countries including Russia. Modi, who has been sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time, is going to Russia on his first bilateral visit. He is going there on a 2 day tour. Before leaving for Moscow, PM Modi tweeted that India wants to cooperate for a peaceful and stable region. Meanwhile, the Modi Archive recalled the Prime Minister's first visit to Russia some 23 years ago. He noted the strong ties between the two countries. Referring to the Prime Minister's past Russian visits in a lengthy post on the social media platform, he said, “The long-standing bilateral relations between India and Russia have deep roots, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi also strengthened when he was Gujarat Chief Minister. Modi had visited Moscow with Prime Minister Vajpayee, “Modi's first visit to Russia was on 6 November 2001, when he was with President Vladimir Putin for the India-Russia Summit and had left for Moscow with Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Prime Minister Modi visited Russia in 2001 as Prime Minister. During his visit to Russia in 2019, PM Modi recalled his first visit, “Recalling the trip, PM Modi said it was his first meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Despite being from a small state and relatively new to the international arena, President Putin treated him with respect, It opened the door to a lasting friendship between us. The long-standing relationship between India and Russia has been significantly strengthened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia on November 6, 2001. pic.twitter.com/E0fBxhMip0 ( @modiarchive) July 8, 2024 During this visit, Modi was surprised to speak in Russian. Chief Minister Modi also signed a protocol agreement for cooperation between his state Gujarat and the Russian province of Astrakhan in the fields of petrochemical and hydrocarbon sectors, trade, science and technology, education, tourism and culture. In the years that followed, our relationship grew stronger through many visits. Modi visited Astrakhan in 2006 and met Governor Alexander Shilkin, and both sides extended a protocol agreement on mutual cooperation for the next 5 years. In 2009, Modi was invited to address the 4th International Energy Week and deliver the keynote address at the 9th Russian Oil and Gas Week conference. At that time, Chief Minister Modi surprised the Russian businessmen there by giving an explanation in Russian! First Indian Prime Minister in Austria after 40 years These many meetings laid a strong foundation for cooperation between Gujarat and Russia especially in energy and petrochemical sectors. Today the entire country benefits from this strong relationship. This is PM Modi's first visit to Russia since 2019. This will be PM Modi's first visit to Russia since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Prime Minister will leave for Austria after completing his Russia tour on July 9. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years. At the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit in Moscow on Tuesday, Modi and Putin will discuss ways to further expand bilateral ties in various sectors including trade, energy and defence.