Putin Meets Jaishankar, Pledges More Fertilizer Supplies to India
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and informed him that Moscow is working to increase fertilizer supplies to India even as he expressed happiness over the increase in trade between the two countries this year.
Putin said Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow underscores the level of relations between India and Russia built over decades.
He spoke about fertilizer supplies to India in a meeting in Kremlin‘’We are doing everything to address this issue for Indian farmers, for agriculture; we are increasing these supplies and are ready to do so further. And all other issues related to nuclear energy, cooperation in high-tech sectors, and other areas – they are all on the agenda, and progress is being made quite steadily,” he said.
Putin said Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow underscored the level of relations between India and Russia built over decades.
‘’We continue to work together in virtually all areas. This includes governmental ties, inter-parliamentary ties, and economic cooperation. I’m pleased to note that our trade turnover has increased this year. While it declined slightly last year, it’s growing this year,’’ he added.
He said the increase in bilateral trade is primarily due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal attention to developing bilateral ties.
Russian leader asked Jaishankar to convey his best wishes to PM Modi. ‘’I hope to see him (Modi) soon, as we planned, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, very soon. Our schedule is such that we will probably be able to meet again this year,’’ Putin said.
Jaishankar was accompanied to the meeting by Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar, while President Putin was assisted by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other leaders.
He conveyed PM Modi’s good wishes to President Putin, Jaishankar also handed over a personal communication from the Indian leader.
EAM infprmed President Putin about the outcomes of the 27th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation held earlier in the day.
The meeting was co-chaired by Jaishankar and Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
Jaishankar told Putin that economic cooperation between the two countries has grown very significantly.
Both nations have enhanced cooperation in areas like trade, energy, nuclear, and fertilizers.
He said PM Modi is keenly looking forward to meeting President Putin at the SCO Summit in Bishkek towards the end of this month and welcoming him in India for the BRICS Summit on September 12-13.
EAM said the two top leaders will also meet for their annual summit later this year as per their mutual convenience. ‘’So we have a very strong picture of cooperation to present,’’ he added.
