Modi describes Russia as a time-tested and reliable friend(Update/Modi/Russia)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described Russia as a time-tested and reliable friend that had stood with India in difficult times and a major partner in building India's defence capabilities, for which Russia enjoys enormous goodwill in India.

He was speaking after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin called on him today.

According to an official statement, Prime Minister Modi expressed his intention to take the relationship to a higher level.

He also recalled his recent visit to the INS Vikramaditya on June 14, and thanked Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin for Russian contribution to the realisation of a major milestone in India's naval capabilities.

He also said that he looked forward to a productive, substantive and forward looking summit with President Putin later in the year.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin called on Prime Minister Modi to convey President Vladimir Putin's greetings to Prime Minister and his desire to work with the latter to further strengthen and deepen the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Misra and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were present at the meeting.