Official website of the President of Russia

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Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi (retranslated): Your Excellency President Putin, welcome to India. I extend my warm greetings to you and your delegation.

Russia is India’s closest friend, its special privileged strategic partner.

Your Excellency, in the past 15 years under your guidance our strategic partnership has become even stronger. Our relations with Russia are a top priority for us.

In the past two hours, we have covered many issues, giving special attention to strategic matters. I would now like to move on to trade and economic cooperation. <…>

Welcome, once again.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister,

You have referred to our relations as a privileged strategic partnership, and there is nothing I can add here. I consider this to be an absolutely correct description based on the current situation, on the history of our relations and on things that have united us and will continue to do so for a sufficiently long time, I am sure.

I would like to note that relations between our countries have been developing incrementally in almost all areas. This is mainly due to the mutual sympathy our peoples have for each other and a frequent coincidence of national interests, all of which unites us.

Today’s talks will result in the signing of a number of documents, including a joint statement reflecting our long-term relations for the next ten years.

I would like to thank you for inviting our entire delegation to the talks today. I am certain we will make yet another significant step forward in the development of relations between India and the Russian Federation. We have a large delegation here. <…> This is not a complete list of all the Russian colleagues who are involved in developing relations with India. However, I would like to assure you that the entire leadership of Russia will maintain the policy that has developed over many previous decades and we will move ahead with confidence.

Thank you once again for the invitation.

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