PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi today

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in New Delhi today on an official visit to India for the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders will review the state and prospects of bilateral relations and discuss ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. The Summit will be an opportunity to exchange views on regional, multilateral and international issues of mutual interest. Both leaders will also hold one-on-one talks.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, who arrived in India last night, will hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar this morning ahead of the First India-Russia 22 Ministerial Dialogue. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also hold a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

Mr Rajnath Singh and Dr. Jaishankar will represent the Indian side in the 22 Dialogue and the Russian side will be represented by their Foreign Affairs Minister and Defence Minister.

The Annual Summit meeting between India and Russia is the highest institutionalized dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between India and Russia. So far, 20 Annual Summit meetings have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. Our correspondent takes a look at the bilateral relations between India and Russia.

Sources reports,Development of India-Russia relations has been a key pillar of India's foreign policy. Since the signing of "Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership" in October 2000, India-Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationship.

During the visit of the Russian President to India in December 2010, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the level of a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership." Intensifying trade and economic relations has been identified as a priority area as is clear by the revised targets of increasing bilateral investment to 50 billion dollars and bilateral trade to 30 billion dollars by 2025.

India-Russia cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space dates back to about four decades. About 20 Russian Institutions regularly teach Hindi to about 1500 Russian students. There is strong interest among Russian people in Indian dance, music, yoga and Ayurveda.