Stressing the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ between India and Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday recalled that the friendship between the two countries has stood the test of time and noted the 'robust' cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic, including in the vaccination programme and affirmed that mutual partnership can help bring stability to the global energy market
Addressing the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), Modi said the pandemic has highlighted the importance of the health and pharma sectors in our bilateral cooperation.
The Prime Minister was delivering a video-address during the plenary session of EEF forum held in Vladivostok, Russia. Modi was the Chief Guest for the 5th EEF in 2019, the first by an Indian Prime Minister. Recalling the visit of Chief Ministers of Indian States to EEF-2019, Prime Minister extended an invitation to Governors of the 11 regions of Russian Far East to visit India.
Energy, he said, is another major pillar of our strategic partnership. India – Russia energy partnership can help bring stability to the global energy market, said Modi.
The Prime Minister said Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Puri is in Vladivostok to represent India at this forum and that Indian workers are participating in major gas projects in the Amur region, from Yamal to Vladivostok and onward to Chennai. “We envisage an energy and trade bridge. I am happy that the Chennai – Vladivostok Maritime Corridor is making headway. This connectivity project along with the International North- South Corridor will bring India and Russia physically closer to each other”, he said.
Noting that India has a talented and dedicated workforce while the Far East is rich in resources, the prime minister said there is tremendous scope for Indian talent to contribute to the development of the Russian Far East.
Modi recalled his 2019 visit to the Russian city of Vladivostok to attend the forum and the then announcement of India's commitment to an "Act Far East policy".The policy is an important part of India's "special and privileged strategic partnership" with Russia, Modi said.
An online meeting between Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani and Governor of Sakha-Yakutia province of Russia was held on 2 September on the sidelines of EEF.