Eight pacts signed after Modi-Putin summit

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 5

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held the India-Russia annual summit after which eight pacts, including on cooperation on India’s ambitious human space mission project Gaganyaan, were signed.

Official sources said the two countries also signed the USD 5 billion S-400 air defence system deal after talks between the two leaders at Hyderabad House.

Talks with President Putin had given new direction to the bilateral strategic partnership, Modi said in a press statement after the 19th India-Russia annual summit.

Pacts were also inked in the fields of space, nuclear energy, railways and space.

A crucial MoU was signed between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Federal Space Agency of Russia ‘ROSCOSMOS’ on joint activities in the field of human spaceflight programme Gaganyaan.

India and Russia are committed to cooperating in the fight against terrorism, Modi said.

President Putin said the two countries had agreed to step up cooperation in combating the menace of terrorism and drug trafficking. With PTI

HIGHLIGHTS

*Protocol for consultations between two foreign ministries

*MoU of economic development between ministry of Russia & Niti Ayog

*MoU between ISRO and federal space agency of Russia on human space flight missions

*MoU of cooperation between Indian and Russian railways

*Action plan for prioritisation and implementation of cooperation in nuclear field

*MoU between Russian ministry of transport and Indian railways on transport education

*MoU on micro small and medium business

*Agreement on cooperation in fertiliser sector

*President Putin and PM Modi have adopted a joint statement Russia-India enduring partnership in a changing world

*Putin said, “We discussed our trade cooperation. We have such a goal of increasing goods turnover by 30 billion USD by 2025. Have invited PM Modi as chief guest at the Economic Forum in September 2019. Deepening energy sector is what we have paid a lot of attention to.”

*Putin said, “Our cooperation goes beyond supplies of Russian weapons. We produce military weapons together. In August, an Indian unit participated for the first time in anti-terror activities in Russia.”

*Neither Modi nor President Putin mentioned #S400 in their statements. There was speculation that Putin and Modi would take one question each after their press statements. But no questions were entertained by both the leaders.

*S400 inked, confirmed in joint statement.