External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday emphasized the strength of India-Russia relations, affirming that the “further enhancement of the special and privileged strategic partnership” remains a key foreign policy priority for both countries.
Speaking virtually at the “Russia and India: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda” conference, Jaishankar highlighted the bilateral relationship’s “deep historical roots” and its “long tradition of trust and mutual respect,” which continue to grow against the backdrop of a shifting global order.
“Through every shift and realignment, India and Russia have demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt and find new opportunities for mutual benefit and for contributing to regional and global stability and prosperity,” Jaishankar added.
He further pointed to frequent high-level exchanges and robust institutional mechanisms as hallmarks of their diplomatic engagement, alongside a commitment to each other’s core interests.
While acknowledging traditional pillars like energy, defense, and civil-nuclear cooperation, Jaishankar noted emerging areas of collaboration such as trade, technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, connectivity, and the digital economy as “new points of collaboration.”
“Our diplomatic engagement continues to be marked by frequent high-level exchanges, robust institutional mechanisms, and a commitment to each other’s core interests,” Jaishankar said.
“While areas like energy, defense, and civil-nuclear cooperation have traditionally dominated our engagement, trade, technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, connectivity, and the digital economy are emerging as new points of collaboration,” he added.
He also reiterated the ambitious goal of boosting bilateral trade, stating, “India and Russia have set a target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.”
The conference is jointly hosted by the Embassy of India in Russia and the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC).
Meanwhile, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, while addressing the conference, confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting India upon the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian news agency TASS reported.
Lavrov stated that India is currently making arrangements for the visit of the Russian President.
“[Russian] President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government. A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared,” Lavrov said, as quoted by Russian News Agency TASS.
(Inputs from ANI)