PM Modi reached Moscow this evening on a three-day official visit to Russia and Austria. He received a Guard of Honour at Moscow airport.

Prime Minister Modi was received by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Denis Manturov.

During the 22nd Annual Summit between India and Russia tomorrow, Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will review the whole range of bilateral issues, including defence, trade linkages, investment ties, energy cooperation, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

They will also share perspectives on regional and global developments of mutual interest. Both leaders will also assess the status of bilateral engagements in groupings such as BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, G20, East Asia Summit, and the UN.

Russian President will host a private dinner for the Prime Minister this evening. Tomorrow, Prime Minister will interact with the Indian community in Russia.

He will also lay a wreath at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier in Kremlin and visit the Rosatom Pavilion at the exhibition venue in Moscow. These engagements will be followed by restricted-level talks between the two leaders, which will then be followed by delegation-level talks.

India and Russia have a Special and Privileged Partnership since 2020, which has remained resilient in the wake of multiple geopolitical challenges. The annual summit between the two leaders is the highest mechanism to steer and drive the cooperation between India and Russia.

In the second leg of his two-nation tour, Prime Minister will be visiting Austria tomorrow itself at the invitation of the Chancellor of Austria. This will be the Prime Minister’s first visit to Austria. He will hold restricted delegation-level talks with the Chancellor of Austria as well as a high-level business engagement.

Austria is an important central European country and offers excellent opportunities for bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, renewable energy, high technology areas, start-up sectors, media and entertainment.