Vladivostok (Russia): Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Zvezda shipbuilding complex along with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday and interacted with the management and workers of the shipyard.
Modi, who arrived in Russia on a two-day visit during which he will hold summit talks with President Putin and attend the Eastern Economic Forum, is the first Indian prime minister to visit to the Russian Far East Region.
During his visit to the shipyard, Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by President Putin. The two leaders hugged and shook hands before their departure for Zvezda shipyard.
“Strong winds propelling the India-Russia relationship! PM @narendramodi and Russian President Putin spending quality time together on board a ship on their way to ‘Zvezda’ Shipbuilding Complex,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
At the shipyard, Modi interacted with the management and workers of the plant.
“PM @narendramodi and President Putin visited the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex. Newer areas of collaboration such as shipbuilding offer opportunities for diversifying the strong India- Russia economic ties,” Kumar tweeted.
In the future, the ships built at that shipyard “will be used to deliver Russian oil and liquefied natural gas to world markets, including India,” President Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying by Tass news agency.
The Zvezda shipyard is being set up on the base of the Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center by a consortium of Rosneft, Rosneftegaz and Gazprombank. The shipyard will produce heavy tonnage ships, offshore platform elements, ice-class vessels, special vessels, and other marine equipment, according to the Russian news agency.
After their visit to the shipyard, the two leader will hold the 20th India-Russia Annual Summit on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, which Russia has hosted since 2015 to boost partnerships with Asian countries.
“A personal chemistry underlining a strong partnership President Putin welcomes PM @narendramodi in #Vladivostok for their 30th meeting. India-Russia relationship goes beyond relations between two capitals and are now at the cusp of expanding to new frontiers,” Kumar tweeted.
In the summit talks, the two leaders are expected to discuss a number of key regional issues, including the Afghan peace process and situation in the Gulf region.
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