Vladimir Putin to host Narendra Modi for one-on-one dinner; likely to sign 25 trade & defence pacts
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a one-on-one dinner in Vladivostok. This will be the 20th edition of an annual bilateral summit where both sides are expected to sign 25 pacts across sectors including defence, trade, investments, industrial cooperation, energy and connectivity corridors.
“During such conversations, the main international and regional problems, coordination in the international arena are discussed very frankly, confidentially,” Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian media at the Kremlin
The EEF is held annually with the objective of facilitating accelerating the development of the Russian Far East’s economy and expanding international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. The Narendra Modi’s visit to attend the annual Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) is probably expected to increase the business cooperation between India and Russia.
Modi and Putin are expected to discuss a proposal to establish a free trade zone between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), a five-nation grouping, comprising Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Belarus, formed in 2015 to create conditions for the stable development of economies of the member states.
Lastly, Modi and Putin met in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek in June on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and agreed on the need to explore new areas of cooperation.
At the September 4 summit, the two leaders will also adopt a joint statement titled “Through trust and partnership to new heights of cooperation, which will set the mood for deepening bilateral ties, including closer foreign policy coordination”, said Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.
