Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin and the camaraderie between the two world leaders were once again on display on Wednesday when Putin took PM Modi on a tour of the Zvezda shipbuilding complex in Vladivostok.

PM Modi later spoke to Russian news agency TASS about his personal rapport with Putin. He said in the interview, "I know that he is a physically very developed person, he leads an active lifestyle, keeps himself in shape. I love it."

PM Modi added, "He is also interested in the environment, wildlife, the underwater world, especially interested in the problem of conservation of tigers and so on. I'm the same by nature. Therefore, it is natural that many things connect us."

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PM Modi also recalled how he has known Vladimir Putin for over 20 years since when he was the Gujarat chief minister and visited Russia along with then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The Prime Minister heaped praises on Putin and said, "Putin is a very open person. He speaks directly and expects him to speak directly and clearly. Therefore, we communicate without any "but" and "if". We clearly understand that President Putin thinks so. Therefore, it is very easy for me to express my opinion to him."

PM Modi and Putin met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum and discussed ways to further cement the special and privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Modi, who arrived in Russia on a two-day visit during which he will also attend the Eastern Economic Forum, is the first Indian prime minister to visit to the Russian Far East Region.

"This is a historical occasion to give a new dimension to the cooperation between the two countries," Modi said in his opening remarks at the 20th India-Russia Annual Summit on the sidelines of the EEF, which Russia has hosted since 2015 to boost partnerships with Asian countries.