During his trip to Russia, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed three agreements pertaining to the Kudan Kulam Nuclear Power Plants, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on collaboration in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and a Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The visit of the EAM to Russia took place from December 25 to 29, as part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two countries.
Throughout his visit, Jaishankar had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and engaged in discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov.
“Three documents relating to the Kudan Kulam Nuclear Power Plants, an MoU on cooperation in pharmaceuticals and healthcare and a Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations were signed during the visit,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a release.
EAM engaged in a thorough discussion regarding the bilateral collaboration in trade and economics, energy, defense, connectivity, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, as well as the cooperation between different regions of both nations.
“He also shared perspectives on global and regional developments, including multilateral cooperation,” the release added.
In addition, he engaged in discussions with Russian think tanks and scholars, exchanging perspectives on Indian foreign policy and the relationship between Russia and India. The release highlighted the significant role of cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges in fostering goodwill and friendship between India and Russia, as evident in the EAM’s interaction with the Indian Diaspora in Moscow.
Furthermore, the EAM met with Governor Alexander Beglov in Saint Petersburg to explore potential collaborations in the economic and cultural sectors. The release also mentioned his fruitful conversation with a diverse group of Indologists at Saint Petersburg University. Their discussions focused on ways to enhance mutual understanding and appreciation of the developments taking place in both countries.
Additionally, the EAM had the opportunity to engage with teachers and students at School.
Moreover, the EAM’s visit to Russia served as a platform to assess the progress of bilateral cooperation and explore avenues to further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.
The relationship between India and Russia has remained robust and consistent, built upon shared strategic interests, geopolitical alignments, and mutually advantageous cooperation between the two nations.