Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold bilateral talks in New Delhi on September 11, ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit.
Putin is visiting India for the summit, which will take place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 under India’s BRICS chairmanship. Leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, along with outreach invitees, are expected to attend.
The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations, global developments and the war in Ukraine. The meeting will also give Putin an opportunity to brief Modi on the latest situation on the fronts, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Trade and economic cooperation will feature prominently. Indian companies are interested in expanding their investments in Russia across different sectors, and Moscow welcomes that interest, Peskov said. He also acknowledged that some aspects of India-Russia cooperation could not be discussed publicly because of obstacles created by what he described as unfriendly countries.
International transport projects are also expected to come up. Developments in the Persian Gulf have added to concerns about the global economy, with the disruption initially affecting one-fifth of global oil supplies and 30% of global liquefied natural gas supplies, according to the Kremlin.
Peskov described the relationship between Modi and Putin as close and pragmatic, saying their regular contact allowed them to discuss sensitive bilateral and international issues openly.
The meeting follows their talks last month on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek. After their bilateral discussions, Modi and Putin travelled together to the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games.
At the BRICS Summit, leaders will also discuss ways to strengthen cooperation within the grouping and exchange views on major global and regional issues.
