Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, was on a two-day visit to Russia from July 8 to 9, 2024, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to participate in the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit held in Moscow, Russia.
- This visit marked PM Modi’s first visit to Kremlin in Russia, since 2019.
- The visit aims to strengthen the multifaceted ties between India and Russia, covering various sectors such as defence, energy, investment, and cultural exchange.
PM Participated in the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit
The 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit in Moscow was co-chaired by the Indian PM Narendra Modi and the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
They discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, emphasising defence cooperation, energy partnerships, and investment opportunities.
- This was their first meeting since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022
- PM Narendra Modi invited President Vladimir Putin to visit India in 2025 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.
Note: The 21st India-Russia Annual Summit was held in New Delhi, Delhi in 2021.
Agreed Areas of cooperations:
Bilateral Trade Goal: India and Russia set a target to increase bilateral trade to USD100 billion by 2030, including the use of national currencies to bypass Western sanctions.
- Notably, there was significant growth in bilateral trade in 2023, nearly double the target of USD 30 billion set for 2025.
Indian Military Personnel: Russia agreed to expedite the discharge of all Indian recruits in the Russian military, with four Indians reported killed this year.
Ukraine Conflict: Both countries emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
Economic Cooperation Program: Agencies from both sides will develop Russian-Indian economic cooperation till 2030 (Programme-2030), coordinated by the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), including monitoring and support mechanisms.
Logistics and Infrastructure: Both sides laid Emphasis on increasing capacity for the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor and the North-South Transport Corridor, along with the Northern Sea Route.
Nuclear Cooperation: Technical discussions on VVER 1200, localization of equipment, and cooperation in third countries will continue.
Military Cooperation: The 21st round of the Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) will be held in Moscow in late 2024.
Science and Technology: There will be the creation of International centers for Innovative Entrepreneurship & Inter-Cluster Interactions to improve Technology Partnerships.
Sectoral Cooperation: The potential areas of cooperation as agriculture and food science and technology, shipbuilding and repair, blue economy, marine industry & ocean resources, chemical science & technology, energy, water, climate, and natural resources, health and medical technology, life sciences, and biotechnology, applied mathematics and data science and technology, material science & technology, physics and astrophysics, polar research and nanotechnology.
Higher Education: A working group on higher education within the framework of the IRIGC-TEC will address mutual recognition of education and academic degrees.
People-to-People Exchanges: Both sides agreed to hold cross-sectoral years of exchange to enhance people-to-people connections.
G20 Coordination: There will be strengthening coordination within the G20 (Group of Twenty) to address global economic challenges and climate finance.
BRICS Cooperation: There will be joint efforts to ensure the continuity of BRICS cooperation, with India supporting Russia’s BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Chairship in 2024 under the theme ‘Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security’.
Other highlights:
i.Both sides welcomed Iran and Belarus as new members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
ii.They called for zero tolerance for terrorism and the adoption of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism.
iii.They also reaffirmed their commitment to combating transnational organized crime, money laundering, terrorist financing, and drug trafficking.
iv.They also expressed their readiness to enhance security dialogue on ICTs (Information and Communications Technology), based on their 2016 Agreement on Cooperation in International Information Security.
v.They will strengthen cooperation within the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS).
vi.Russia is expected to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).
vii.They will be collaborating on climate change prevention and adaptation, low-carbon development, and green financing.
Click Here for Official Full Joint Statement
PM Narendra Modi, 1st Indian, to receive Russia’s Highest Civilian Honour, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle
PM Narendra Modi was honoured with Russia’s highest civilian award, the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle to recognition of his efforts in the development of a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India-Russia relations.
- President Putin conferred the award on PM Modi in a special ceremony held at the St Andrew Hall, Kremlin.
- This award highlights the mutual respect and deep-rooted friendship between India and Russia.
- PM Modi is the first Indian leader to receive this award. Notably, this award for PM was announced in 2019.
About The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle:
The award was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and the patron saint of Russia and Scotland and later reinstated in 1998.
- The award features a double-headed eagle emblem and a light blue silk ribbon.
- It is given to prominent government and public figures, military leaders, and outstanding representatives of various sectors for exceptional services to Russia.
India, Russia Sign 9 Agreements
A total of nine agreements were signed between India and Russia, covering diverse areas such as defence, energy, trade, and cultural exchange. These agreements aim to bolster cooperation and drive economic growth, fostering a robust partnership between India and Russia.
1.Program of India-Russia cooperation in trade, economic and investment spheres in the Russian Far East (2024-2029) and cooperation principles in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation
- Aims to boost trade and joint investment projects between Russia’s Far East region and India covering various sectors including agriculture, energy, and transport.
- Includes principles for cooperation in the Arctic zone.
2.MoU on Climate Change
- It was signed between India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development.
- This will enable the establishment of a Joint Working Group (JWC) for climate change and low-carbon development.
- It focuses on the exchange of information/ best practices and co-host research to develop low-cost technologies.
3.MoU on Geodesy and Cartography
- It was signed between Dehradun, Uttarakhand-based Survey of India (SoI) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST), India; and Russia’s Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre, and Cartography.
- Involves Exchange of knowledge and experience in geodesy, cartography and spatial data infrastructure; cooperation in scientific and educational institutes.
4.MoU on Polar Research and Logistics
- It was signed between Vasco Da Gama, the Goa-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), India and Russia’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.
- It covers polar environment studies, resource sharing, joint research, and logistics.
5.MoU on Broadcasting Cooperation
- It was signed between New Delhi-based Prasar Bharati and Russia Today TV Channel (ANO “TV-Novosti”).
- It includes the exchange of programs, personnel, and training.
6.MoU on Pharmaceutical Quality
- It was signed between Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP)-based Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), India, and the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Scientific Centre for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products” of the Ministry of Health of the Russia.
- It ensures the availability of high-quality medicines through information exchange and capacity building.
7.Cooperation Agreement on Arbitration
- It was signed between the New Delhi-based Indian International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) and the International Commercial Arbitration Court (Russia).
- It facilitates the settlement of civil law disputes of a commercial nature.
8.Joint Investment Promotion Framework Agreement
- It was signed between New Delhi-based Invest India and JSC Management Company of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
- It promotes investment by Russian companies in India.
9.MoU on Trade and Investment Promotion
- It was signed between New Delhi-based Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) and All Russia Public Organization “Business Russia”.
- It focuses on bilateral trade, investment, B2B (business-to-business) meetings, and business delegation exchanges.
Click Here for the Official List
PM Pays Tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow
PM Narendra Modi paid homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Kremlin Wall, Moscow, honouring the sacrifices of soldiers and reaffirming the strong historical bonds between India and Russia. It honours the Soviet soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War II.
Highlights of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Austria
Following his visit to Russia, PM Narendra Modi visited Austria from 9th to 10th July 2024. PM Modi became the first Indian PM to visit Austria in 41 years. This visit aims to strengthen India-Austria relations and explore new avenues for cooperation.
Note: The last Indian PM to visit Austria was Indira Gandhi in 1983.
PM Receives Ceremonial Guard of Honour in Vienna, Signs Guestbook
At the Federal Chancellery in Vienna, Austria, PM Narendra Modi received a ceremonial Guard of Honour and signed the guestbook, marking a significant moment in India-Austria relations.
Key Highlights:
i.PM Modi met with Austrian President Van der Bellen and Chancellor Karl Nehammer to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and cooperating on geopolitical challenges.
- PM Modi and Chancellor Nehammer identified stronger economic and technological ties as a strategic goal. They welcomed the first high-level bilateral Business Forum held in Vienna, encouraging business leaders to explore dynamic partnerships.
- They also recognised the importance of skill development and mobility of skilled personnel to support an expanded engagement in high-tech sectors.
ii.PM Modi also met with Austrian physicist Anton Zeilinger, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics 2022 for “experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science”.
India-Austria to Partner on Sustainability, Focus on Green Hydrogen
India and Austria agreed to collaborate on sustainability initiatives, with a particular focus on green hydrogen. This partnership aims to promote clean energy solutions and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.
- They identified several environmental technologies for this cooperation, including clean transportation, water and wastewater management, waste management, and renewable energy.
Recent Related News:
i.The Indian Army has acquired the first batch of 24 Russia-made Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) along with 100 missiles, as part of an agreement involving domestic production in India. This will bolster the Indian Army’s Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities.
ii.Oleg Dmitriyevich Kononenko, a Russian Cosmonaut has become the first person to spend 1,000 Cumulative days in space. He currently works at the International Space Station (ISS).
About Russia:
Prime Minister– Mikhail Mishustin
Capital– Moscow
Currency– Russian Ruble
About Austria:
President– Alexander Van der Bellen
Capital– Vienna
Currency– Euro
