Putin sends Independence Day greetings to Mukherjee, Modi

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his greetings on the occasion of India's Independence Day to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In his telegram, he praised India's "impressive success in social, economic, scientific, technological and humanitarian spheres. High is your country's prestige in the international arena".

He said Russian-Indian relations are based on long-standing traditions of friendship and mutual respect and have attained the level of special and privileged strategic partnership.

Putin said Russia attaches great importance to the launch of procedure for India's joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, "which opens up new vistas for broader and productive cooperation between our nations".

He recalled his meetings with Modi in Ufa, Russia, in early July and in New Delhi in last December.

"It is with warm feelings that I recall our meetings in Russia and India, substantive and constructive negotiations. I am confident that by joint efforts we will ensure further growth of the whole gamut of bilateral ties and partnership interaction in addressing the burning issues of regional and global agenda. This meets the fundamental interests of our nations and goes in line with providing international stability and security", he said, according to the Russian embassy here.