The first day of the India-Russia meet at Vladivostok looked very promising as the two nations multiple agreements
The Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi has today, i.e., Wednesday, September 4, 2019, visited the Zvezda shipbuilding complex in the town of Bolshoy Kamen in the Russian Far East, with the President of Russia – Vladimir Putin.
Upon his arrival to Russia, Modi received the Guard of Honour at the Airport. Modi is on a 2-day visit to Russia where he will attend the Eastern Economic Forum, an international forum held each year in Vladivostok, Russia, for encouraging foreign investment in the Russian Far East.
Modi is the first India PM to attend the Summit and is the Chief Guest at the Summit. On this first day of the meet India and Russia have signed 15 memorandums and agreements amounting to U.S. $ 11 billion. Addressing the long standing issue of scarcity of spares in Russian Defence produces, Moscow and New Delhi have agreed to jointly produce the said spares.
India pulled a major coup in the Energy sector. The two countries have agreed to jointly explore natural gas in Russian Arctic region, aslo India has secured a major victory in her energy security by signing off huge LnG imports from Russian companies. Given the fact that US sanctions against Russia would definitely make a USD based trade impossible, the direct Rupee/Rouble trade will also help managing USD based current account deficit in India. This is Modi’s 3rd bilateral visit to Russia since he first became the Prime Minister of India in 2014.
Before proceeding to the Zvezda shipbuilding complex, Modi and Putin shook hands and hugged each other. The shipyard is owned by United Shipbuilding Corporation, an open joint stock company in Russia which unites shipbuilding, repair and maintenance subsidiaries in western and northern Russia, and in the country’s Far East, to streamline civilian shipbuilding using military facilities. The shipyard produces heavy tonnage ships, offshore platform elements, ice-class vessels, special vessels, and other marine equipment. Presently, the shipyard is building ships for Russian companies, Rosneft and Gazprom.
Modi interacted with the management and workers of the plant at the shipyard. Going forward, the ships built at the shipyard will be used to deliver Russian oil and liquefied natural gas to other countries, including India.
Expressing delight over his visit to the shipyard, Modi tweeted, “Deeply touched by President Putin’s gracious gesture to accompany me to Zvezda shipyard, which is poised to make a huge contribution to development of Arctic shipping.”
Deeply touched by President Putin’s gracious gesture to accompany me to Zvezda shipyard, which is poised to make a huge contribution to development of Arctic shipping. pic.twitter.com/vyUENhl0QL
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2019
He also tweeted, “During our visit, President Putin showed me cutting edge technologies at the shipyard. My visit opens up new pathways of cooperation in this important field.”
During our visit, President Putin showed me cutting edge technologies at the shipyard. My visit opens up new pathways of cooperation in this important field.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2019
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of External Affairs of India – Raveesh Kumar tweeted, “Strong winds propelling the India-Russia relationship! PM @narendramodi and Russian President Putin spending quality time together on board a ship on their way to ‘Zvezda’ Shipbuilding Complex.”
Strong winds propelling the India-Russia relationship!
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) September 4, 2019
PM @narendramodi and Russian President Putin spending quality time together on board a ship on their way to ‘Zvezda’ Shipbuilding Complex. #DruzbaDosti pic.twitter.com/12hZn9DtWj
Kumar further tweeted, “PM @narendramodi and President Putin visited the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex. Newer areas of collaboration such as shipbuilding offer opportunities for diversifying the strong India- Russia economic ties. At the shipyard, Modi interacted with the management and workers of the plant.”
Modi and Putin will hold the 20th India-Russia Annual Summit on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, which Russia has hosted since 2015 to boost partnerships with Asian countries. They are expected to discuss several key regional issues such as peace in Afghanistan and the rising tension in the Gulf especially in the wake of no-dialogue between United States (U.S.) and Islamic Republic of Iran. The tensions between U.S and Iran have been continuously rising after U.S. abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as Iran nuclear deal. The U.S. has also threatened countries importing oil from Iran of sanctions. For the records, India is one of the biggest client of Iran.
India and Russia will also discuss 5 years roadmap of bilateral ties in the oil and gas sector, in terms of exploration and exploitation, and purchase. India is now hoping for a greater collaboration with Russia. The leaders will also work out a plan to enhance cooperation while working in multilateral organisations like Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Brazil-Russia-India-China and South Africa (BRICS).
Modi and Putin are also exploring a possibility of establishing a Free Trade Zone between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), a 5-nation group comprising Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Belarus. In addition, India will also discuss the Kashmir issue, especially when Pakistan is desperately looking for international support over the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in Kashmir.
Ahead of his visit to Russia, Modi said, “I look forward to discussing with my friend President Putin the entire gamut of our bilateral partnership as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. I also look forward to meeting other global leaders attending the Eastern Economic Forum and interacting with Indian Industry and business representatives participating in it.”
He also said, “I am confident that this visit will give a new vector, new energy and a new impetus to the relations between our countries.”
