Putin greets Modi; hopes to improve ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes he and Narendra Modi can push bilateral ties to new heights, just as the two countries did last time when BJP was in power.

In his message of congratulations to Mr. Modi, the Russian leader recalled that it was with a BJP government that he had signed the “historic” Declaration of Strategic Partnership.

Mr. Putin “highly praised the traditionally friendly relations between Russia and India that are based on the Declaration of Strategic Partnership, which was signed when BJP was in power and which defined the course of bilateral cooperation for years ahead,” according to the Kremlin.

Mr. Putin stressed that the Declaration had “historic significance,” as borne out by “the impressive results of productive joint work” since its signing in 2000 and “large-scale mutually beneficial projects accomplished in the economic, military-technical, scientific, cultural and humanitarian spheres.”

Mr. Putin voiced confidence that together with Mr. Modi they “will be able to multiply the achievements of the past period,” the Kremlin said.