Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday left for a two-day visit to Russia for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi and his Russian counterpart will discuss and assess the multifaceted relations between the two countries and also exchange views on issues of regional and global concern.
Among a number of events, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to host a dinner for Prime Minister Modi while he is also expected to address the Indian community during the two-day visit.
The world media, including the Chinese media, will be keeping a close eye on the Prime Minister Modi-Vladimir Putin meeting as this high-profile meeting is set to have wide-reaching geopolitical implications in the region.
Meanwhile, an old photo of PM Modi and President Putin has surfaced on social media. The viral photo is of the meeting when Narendra Modi was the CM of Gujarat and went to Moscow for the India-Russia summit in 2021 with the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Modi Archive, a popular X-account that shares pictures of the two leaders, said that the long-standing relationship between India and Russia has deep historical roots that have strengthened over time. It also mentioned a specific incident of how the initiative of the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi strengthened the relationship.
The long-standing relationship between India and Russia has deep historical roots, which have been significantly strengthened by Prime Minister Modi. @Narendra Modi During his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Narendra Modi’s first visit #Russia This incident took place on 6 November 2001, when he was the Chief Justice. pic.twitter.com/E0fBxhMip0
— Modi Archive (@modiarchive) July 8, 2024
“During this (2001) visit, Chief Minister Modi signed a protocol agreement for cooperation between his state Gujarat and the Russian province of Astrakhan, in which the two states agreed to work together in the areas of petro and hydrocarbon sectors, trade, science and technology, education, tourism and culture. In subsequent years, these ties were strengthened through numerous visits,” the Modi Archives says.
It further stated that the Chief Minister of Gujarat again visited Astrakhan, Russia in 2006 and met Governor Alexander Zhilkin, and the Protocol Agreement on cooperation was extended for another five years.
In 2009, he was invited to address the 4th International Energy Week and deliver the keynote address at the 9th Russian Oil and Gas Week Conference.
The then Chief Minister Modi surprised the Russian businessmen by giving a presentation in the Russian language.
In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled vivid memories of his 2001 visit to Russia and said it was his first meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
He had said that despite coming from a small country and being relatively new to the international stage, President Putin treated him with great respect, opening the door to a lasting friendship.
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