Dear friends,
It is my pleasure to greet you on this remarkable occasion – the Day of Russia!
We are very proud to note that one of the first major international initiatives taken by the new Russia was the signing of the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation with India on January 28, 1993, which reaffirmed the continuity of our unique relationship.The Declaration of Strategic Partnership of 2000 laid the foundation of our modern relationship, which since 2010 has enjoyed the status of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership that is immune to any changes in domestic affairs or vagaries in the international politics.
In 2017, we celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our friendly nations, and in September 2019 our Far Eastern city of Vladivostok will host the jubilee 20th bilateral summit that will undoubtedly provide major boost to further advance of bilateral cooperation in various fields. Recently our countries saw elections, results of which testified to the full support and willingness of our nations and peoples to enhance Russia – India fruitful and mutually beneficial partnership. It would be no exaggeration to state that the intensity of our political ties leaves us no time to rest and it is a matter of pride for us to enjoy the legacy of trust that we inherited from the past and preserve it as the most valuable asset of our multifaceted interaction today and in the years to come.
Economic cooperation is also one of the top priorities of our relations. The 2018 October summit in New Delhi resulted in a new series of important agreements and MoUs, introducing a new platform for aspiring entrepreneurs – Russia-India Business Summit, which showed eagerness and ability of our companies to enhance trade, economic and investment partnership.
It is gratifying and inspiring that people-to people contacts and mutual affinity are the key drivers of the Russian-Indian friendship giving new impetus to the ever-expanding areas of our cooperation in political, trade, investment, technological, scientific and cultural spheres. A deeply ingrained sense of spiritual kinship, shared solidarity and a clear recognition of a win-win partnership – these are the reasons why we proudly declare that the amity between Russia and India has long ago become a deep-rooted popular tradition in both countries.
Jai Rus! Jai Hind!