PM Modi leaves for Russia to attend 16th Annual Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday left for a two-day visit to Russia to attend the 16th Annual Summit there.

The Summit would commence with a private dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Summit would begin on the second day with the Prime Minister interacting with Russian and Indian CEOs.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had expressed hope that the visit would deepen bilateral ties between the two nations.

"Today I will commence my visit to Russia, my first bilateral visit after we formed the Government. I am very optimistic about the outcome of this visit. History is witness to the close ties India and Russia have had over the decades. Russia remains one of India's most valued friends in the world," he said in his Facebook post.

Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told reporters that Prime Minister's visit to Russia is aimed at expanding the special and privileged strategic ties with a particular focus on nuclear energy, hydrocarbons, defence and trade.

India and Russia are likely to ink a number of pacts in a range of sectors including nuclear energy and defence. The two time-tested partners will focus on expanding economic ties.

The two countries are aiming at enhancing annual bilateral trade to 30 billion dollars over the next ten years from current ten billion dollars. Besides bilateral issues, the two Prime Ministers are likely to deliberate on a number of global issues having political dimensions including the situation in Syria and ways to tackle terrorism.