Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invitation to him for the Eastern Economic Forum was a matter of great respect. “This is a historical occasion to give a new dimension to the support between the two countries,” Modi said at the delegation-level talks.

PM Modi is on a two-day bilateral visit to Russia where he will attend the Eastern Economic Forum and hold summit talks with Putin.

Speaking in Vladivostok, Modi also thanked Putin for the decision to award him Russia’s highest civilian award. He said it demonstrates the friendly relations between the people of our 2 countries. “It’s a matter of honour for the 1.3 billion Indians,” he added.

PM Modi was given a guard of honour upon his arrival in Vladivostok, the capital of the Russian Far East. He is the first Indian prime minister to visit to the Russian Far East Region.

Later, the Russian president accompanied PM Modi on the latter’s visit to the Zvezda ship-building complex in Valdivostok.

Highlights:

2:30 pm IST Modi-Putin shake hands PM Modi and President Putin shook hands after their joint press conference. PM Modi shakes hands with President Putin. ( ANI / Twiiter )





2:20 pm IST India, Russia against outside influence in internal matters of any nation: PM Modi India and Russia realise the importance of a multipolar world. We are working together on many global forums like BRICS and SCO, says PM Modi. Adds, “We are both are against outside influence in the internal matters of any nation”.





2:18 pm IST Proposal to have full-fledged maritime route between Chennai and Vladivostok PM Modi says, “A proposal has been made to have a full fledged maritime route that serves as a link between Chennai and Vladivostok.”





2:16 pm IST Cooperation in space touching new heights: Modi Our cooperation in space is touching new heights, says PM Modi on India-Russia space cooperation. Says, new chapters being added to the strategic relationship between the two countries.





2:15 pm IST ‘We have put people at the core of this relationship’ PM Modi says, “The power of India-Russia friendship has been leveraged for the mutual benefit of our citizens.” Adds, “The India-Russia friendship is not restricted to their respective capital cities. We have put people at the core of this relationship.”





2:11 pm IST PM Modi thanks President Putin for inviting him to Vladivostok PM Modi begins addressing media. Expresses his happiness at his visit to Vladivostok, thanks Russian President Putin for inviting him to the city. Says, he is honoured to be the first ever Indian PM to be coming to Vladivostok.





2:08 pm IST ‘I will wait for you’: Putin tells PM Modi at joint conference Putin also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting his invitation to attend the celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow in May 2020. “I will wait for you,” he said, wrapping up his statement on talks with PM Modi.





2:05 pm IST President Putin addresses media President Putin addressing media at the joint press conference. Says , Russia will build 20 more nuclear power plants in India.





1:59 pm IST PM Modi and President to shortly address media Prime Minister Modi and Russian president Putin to shortly address a joint press conference . Before this, Russia and India exchanged agreements in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Vladivostok.





1:12 pm IST PM Modi talks about being conferred Russia’s highest civilian award Watch: PM Modi talks about being conferred with Russia’s highest civilian award. The Indian prime minister was named for the ‘Order of St Andrew the Apostle’ award by Russia in April for his exceptional services in promoting bilateral ties between the two countries. #WATCH: PM Modi speaks in Vladivostok on Russia's highest civilian award being conferred upon him. He also says, "Russia is an integral friend & trustworthy partner of India. You've (Russian Pres) personally focussed on expanding our special&privileged strategic partnership..." pic.twitter.com/X71z78YQ50 — ANI (@ANI) 4 September 2019





12:59 pm IST PM Modi calls Russia integral friend, trustworthy partner of India “Russia is an integral friend and trustworthy partner of India. You’ve personally focussed on expanding our special & privileged strategic partnership,” said PM Modi. He added, “ As two integral friends, wé’ve met regularly. I’ve spoken to you over telephone on several issues, I’ve never felt any hesitation.”





12:55 pm IST ‘Express my gratitude to you & people of Russia’: Modi PM Modi says, “You’ve announced that I’ll be awarded with Russia’s highest civilian award. I express my gratitude to you and people of Russia. This demonstrates the friendly relations between the people of our two countries. It’s a matter of honour for the 1.3 billion Indians.”





12:52 pm IST ‘Matter of great respect’: Modi on Putin’s invite for EEF Talking about President Putin’s invitation at the 20th India-Russia Annual Summit, PM Modi said , “Your invitation to me, for Eastern Economic Forum is a matter of great respect. This is a historical occasion to give a new dimension to the support between the two countries. I am waiting to participate in the forum tomorrow.”





12:45 pm IST Modi-Putin hold delegation level talks Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold delegation level talks in Vladivostok, reports ANI.





12:40 pm IST ‘Visit opens new pathways of cooperation’ Tweeting about his meeting with President Putin, PM Modi said, “During our visit, President Putin showed me cutting edge technologies at the shipyard. My visit opens up new pathways of cooperation in this important field.” Deeply touched by President Putin’s gracious gesture to accompany me to Zvezda shipyard, which is poised to make a huge contribution to development of Arctic shipping. pic.twitter.com/vyUENhl0QL — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 4 September 2019





12:17 pm IST Modi-Putin to discuss key regional issues at bilateral talks In their summit talks, PM Modi and President Putin are expected to discuss a number of key regional issues, including the Afghan peace process and situation in the Gulf region. PTI reports that the two sides are also expected to firm up a five-year roadmap 2019-2024 laying out possibilities of cooperation in oil and gas sector, in terms of exploration and exploitation, and purchase.





11:58 am IST Modi-Putin to hold India-Russia Annual Summit The two leaders will hold the 20th India-Russia Annual Summit on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum later in the day, which Russia has hosted since 2015 to boost partnerships with Asian countries.





11:32 am IST ‘Special chemistry’: Modi on his relationship with Putin PM Modi had told the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper that his relationship with President Putin has “special chemistry, special ease,” reports news agency AFP. “With each meeting with President Putin, we get closer and our relationship grows”, Modi said. The Indian PM pointed out that mutual ties also extend to nature, as every year “Siberian cranes migrate to my home state Gujarat”. And the Indian leader said he planned to discuss tiger conservation with Putin, a lover of big cats, reports AFP.





11:20 am IST Modi-Putin discuss ways to deepen cooperation in ship building President Putin had decided to accompany PM Modi on his visit to Zvezda as a special gesture, reports ANI. Both leaders discussed ways to deepen cooperation in ship building. #WATCH: PM Modi & Russian President Vladimir Putin on board a ship on their way to Zvezda ship-building complex, Vladivostok. In a special gesture, President Putin decided to accompany PM Modi. Both leaders discussed ways to deepen cooperation in ship building. (Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/M3SiqKCXby — ANI (@ANI) 4 September 2019





11;15 am IST Modi and Putin visit ship building complex PM Modi and Russian president Vladimir Putin at the Zvezda ship-building complex, Vladivostok. PM Modi with Russian president Putin at ship-building complex in Vladivostok, Russia. ( ANI / Twitter )





10:52 am IST PM Modi interacts with workers, management at Zvezda shipyard During his visit to the Zvezda shipbuilding yard, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the management and workers there, reports news agency PTI. In the future, the ships built at that shipyard “will be used to deliver Russian oil and liquefied natural gas to world markets, including India,” President Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying by Tass news agency.





10:27 am IST PM Modi, Putin seen greeting each other Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin hug and shake hands before their departure for Zvezda ship-building complex, Vladivostok. : ANI #WATCH Russia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin hug and shake hands before their departure for Zvezda ship-building complex, Vladivostok. (Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/9DDJyvBknL — ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2019





10:06 am IST PM Modi and Putin reach Zvezda ship-building complex Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive at Zvezda ship-building complex.





09:25 am IST PM Modi, Putin depart for Zvezda ship-building complex Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs for Zvezda ship-building complex along with Russian President Vladimir Putin. :ANI





09:00 am IST Summit likely to kickstart joint venture of India, Russia to produce arms on Indian soil Russia and India in 2015 signed a $1 billion agreement to jointly make Kamov Ka-226 military helicopter, but the deal has been pushed back repeatedly. India is keen to produce more arms on its own soil, and in March launched a joint venture with Russia to manufacture AK-203 assault rifles. Rostec, the umbrella corporation that controls Kamov, is “hopeful” that the summit can kickstart the helicopter project, its director for international cooperation, Viktor Kladov, said last week. : AFP





08:25 am IST PM Modi plans to discuss tiger conservation with Putin PM said he planned to discuss tiger conservation with Putin, a lover of big cats. : AFP





08:00 am IST Modi, Putin to visit Zvezda, a major shipbuilding facility Modi and Putin will start the summit with a visit to Zvezda, a major shipbuilding facility servicing both the navy and the off-shore oil industry. : AFP





07:30 am IST ‘Agreements regarding Indian investment, presence in Far East likely to be signed’: Analyst The countries are likely to sign agreements “regarding Indian investment and presence in the Far East, Alexei Kupriyanov told news agency AFP.





07:10 am IST ‘Discussion to focus on economic matter’: Analyst “Politically, there are no disagreements between Russia and India, so the discussion between the two strategic partners will focus on economic matters,” Alexei Kupriyanov, an analyst with the Institute of World Economy and International Relations said.





06:50 am IST ‘Both countries willing to diversify, strengthen relations’: PM Modi According to PM Modi, the visit underlines the desire of the two countries to diversify and further strengthen bilateral relations.





06:40 am IST ‘PM warmly welcomed at airport’: MEA tweeted Ministry of External Affairs tweeted on Wednesday mornings: “PM @narendramodi was warmly welcomed at Vladivostok airport on his 3rd bilateral visit to Russia. Over the next 2 days, bilateral meeting with President Putin, participation at Eastern Economic Forum & meetings with other world leaders on the agenda,” the ministry of external affairs tweeted.





06:20 am IST Indians welcome PM at Russia’s Far Eastern Federal University Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed by the Indian diaspora in Russia, at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) in Vladivostok. :ANI Indians welcome PM Modi. ( ANI Twitter )





06:05 am IST PM Modi receives guard of honour on arrival to Vladivostok Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives a guard of honour, on his arrival in Vladivostok.



