The new Russian Ambassador, Nikolay R. Kudashev, on Monday said cooperation with India remains a top priority in Russia's foreign policy and he will make all efforts to take Indo-Russian relations to new heights.
Kudashev took charge as Ambassador-designate last week, replacing former Russian envoy Alexander M. Kadakin, who died this January due to illness. Kudashev will be presenting his credentials to the President shortly.
"Cooperation with India constitutes a top priority of Russia's foreign policy. Our friendly relations have acquired the status of special and privileged strategic partnership, and we strive to infuse it with new dimensions and meanings. Building upon earlier achievements, Russia is eager to contribute to India's rapid development through mutually beneficial projects across all sectors," Kudashev said in his welcome address.
He further added that Moscow views the growing influence of New Delhi as a natural and long-awaited trend of international affairs. "Such multilateral fora as the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), G-20 offer us vast opportunities for fruitful cooperation on topical issues of global peace and security. Together with my embassy team, I will spare no effort in bringing Russian-Indian relations to new heights and adding new milestones to the glorious bilateral history," Kudashev said.