Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, emphasizing that close cooperation between India and Russia is vital for global peace, prosperity, and stability.The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, including in the economic, financial, and energy sectors, along with regional and global issues of common concern, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Welcoming recent initiatives to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, PM Modi said that the parties involved must move forward “constructively.”“It is a great pleasure to meet you, and I always feel that every meeting with you becomes a memorable one. It provides us an opportunity to exchange a lot of information. We remain in constant contact and have held several bilateral meetings,” PM Modi said in his opening remarks.Putin is scheduled to visit India in December for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. PM Modi said that the people of India were “eagerly waiting” for the Russian President’s visit.“This is the definition of our deep, ‘special and privileged strategic partnership.’ In the most difficult times too, India and Russia have always walked shoulder-to-shoulder with each other. Our close cooperation is not only important for the people of both countries but also for peace, prosperity, and stability in the world,” PM Modi said.On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Prime Minister reiterated India’s position of supporting dialogue and peaceful resolution.
