Modi and Putin Strengthen Strategic Partnership, Deepen Cooperation in Vladivostok

Sept. 4, 2019 (EIRNS)—Today, on the first day of the Sept. 4-6 Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his special guest, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and signed a number of agreements across a broad array of areas, ranging from cooperation in nuclear energy, space, military and defense, global and regional affairs and culture and education.

The two leaders stressed that their relationship is based on “similar civilizational values,” and similar approaches to “the fundamental issues of development and economic progress.” In the turbulent realities of today, they stressed, they have never been “and will not be susceptible to outside influence.”

The press conference which followed their meeting was characterized by great personal warmth and friendship, with Modi referring several times to “my friend” Putin. The Forum’s plenary session will take place on Sept. 5, which Putin will keynote. The plenary will also be attended by Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga, among other regional leaders.

Key areas of cooperation outlined in the 82-point joint statement that Putin and Modi issued include:

• bilateral cooperation on development of Russia’s Far East. India prepared to expand economic and investment presence in the Far Eastern region and Siberia;

• India to cooperate with Russia in the Arctic;

• Russia ready to participate in major infrastructural projects in India;

• civil nuclear cooperation;

• transportation infrastructure; much importance given to development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC); also expanded rail cooperation;

• cooperation in science and technology—telecommunications, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, etc.;

• cooperation in space, between Roscosmos and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), including human spaceflight programs and satellite navigation; also exploit greater potential of India and Russia in producing launch vehicles;

• military and military-technical cooperation;

• importance of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in international affairs stressed, as well as the intention of intensifying cooperation within the Russia-India-China (RIC) framework; promoting common approaches to pressing global and regional problems, aimed at upholding international law, countering protectionism, unilateral sanctions, and combatting terrorism. Modi and Putin agreed that regular SCO meetings should be held at the level of heads of state and government, foreign ministers or heads of other agencies, if necessary;

• expressed commitment to building “an equal and indivisible security architecture in Asia and the Pacific region,” including multilateral dialogue within the framework of the East Asia Summits and other regional platforms.