Strategic partnership with India priority in Russia's foreign policy: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory message on the eve of India's Republic Day, saying a privileged partnership with New Delhi is an invariable priority in Moscow's foreign policy.

"Over the decades of independent development, India has achieved impressive success in economic, social, scientific, technical and other spheres. Your country plays an important and constructive role in solving pressing issues of the regional and international agenda," he said in his message to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Special and privileged strategic partnership with India is an invariable priority in Russia's foreign policy," he added.

The Russian President reiterated his country's readiness to further strengthening of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation between both sides in various areas.

"In this respect, great importance is being attached to the implementation of the map of events dedicated to the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between our countries," said Putin.

"With all my heart, I wish you good health and success, and to the friendly people of India - well-being and prosperity," he concluded.

Relations with Russia are a key pillar of India's foreign policy, and Russia has been a longstanding time-tested partner of India.

Since the signing of "Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership" in October 2000 (during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India), India-Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationship including political, security, trade and economy, defense, science and technology and culture.

Under the Strategic Partnership, several institutionalized dialogue mechanisms operate at both political and official levels to ensure regular interaction and follow up on cooperation activities. During the visit of the Russian President to India in December 2010, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the level of a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.