India, Russia hold preparatory meeting for next annual summit and Eastern Economic Forum

NEW DELHI: India and Russia have held wide-ranging consultations to prepare for the next Indo-Russian summit and the Indian PM's trip to Vladivostok in September for the Eastern Economic Forum besides evolving situation in Afghanistan amid Taliban peace talks.

During visit to Moscow, 1-2 April, Foreign Secretary met Deputy Foreign Minister or DFM, Igor Morgulov for Foreign Office Consultations. The discussions reviewed the implementation of the decisions of the 19th Annual Bilateral Summit between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin in New Delhi in October last year.

Both sides also discussed preparations for the forthcoming high-level meetings, including India’s participation in the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September this year.


During discussions with DFM Igor Morgulov, the talks covered preparations for the next Bilateral Summit, cooperation in the formats of SCO, RIC and other bodies. There were wide-ranging discussions on evolving situation in Afghanistan.

Foreign Secretary also met DFM Sergey Ryabkov. Discussions covered regional and international issues including those relating to disarmament and non-proliferation, and cooperation between India and Russia at various multilateral fora.

Foreign Secretary called on Deputy Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Far East Federal District, Yury Trutnev. Russia has been keen for wide-ranging Indian participation in resource rich Far East.

"Foreign Secretary’s meetings were in-depth and productive, characteristic of the Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia. The meetings resulted in enhanced mutual convergence and coordination of views on all major regional and international issues in the spirit of long standing and time-tested friendship between India and Russia," noted a statement released by the MEA.