Putin, Modi Hold Bilateral Talks on SCO Summit Sidelines in Bishkek
Putin and Modi met at the SCO summit in Bishkek, with Putin praising the strength of the India-Russia strategic partnership.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday.
During the talks, Putin expressed satisfaction with the continuing strength of Russian-Indian relations, describing them as a "privileged strategic partnership." He credited Modi's personal attention for fostering the warm ties between the two nations, noting the relationship extends beyond official business to a personal level.
The meeting was one of several bilateral engagements at the summit, which also saw Putin hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Russian state media, Putin affirmed Moscow's readiness to make the visa-free regime with China permanent and reiterated that Russia's relationship with India is strengthening.
The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian states as a security forum, has expanded in size and influence over the past quarter-century. The leaders of China, Russia, and India were among the heads of state gathered in the Central Asian nation for the summit, which is often viewed as a counterweight to U.S. global influence.