India great power and time-tested friend of Russia: Putin

New Delhi, Dec. 6: Describing India as a “great power” and a “timetested” friend, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday identified terrorism, drug trafficking and organised crime as common challenges facing both countries.In his initial remarks during in-person talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, Putin also expressed concern over the developments in Afghanistan and said India and Russia will continue to coordinate on major challenges facing the region.

“We perceive India as a great power, a friendly nation and a time-tested friend. The relations between our countries are developing and we are looking into the future,” Mr Putin said.

PM Modi said Putin’s second visit abroad during the Covid pandemic reflected his personal commitment to the IndiaRussia ties and that the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two sides was getting stronger.

In the last few decades, the world witnessed many fundamental changes and different kinds of geopolitical equations and variables, but the friendship of India and Russia remained constant, PM Modi said.

“Your visit to India is a reflection of your commitment to ties with India,” the Prime Minister said.

President Putin said both sides continue to cooperate on global issues and the positions of the two sides on many issues have similarities.

“Naturally, we are concerned about everything that has to do with terrorism. I mean the fight against terrorism and the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime,” he said. “In this regard, of course, we cannot but be concerned about the situation and how it is developing in Afghanistan,” he said. The Russian leader also referred to growing cooperation between India and Russia in areas of environment, trade and investment and high technology among others.

“In 2020, we observed a decline in trade turnover by more than 17 per cent. The first nine months of this year, the growth was already more than 38 per cent,” he said.