Prime Minister Narendra Modi told President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that he expected to receive the Russian leader in India as soon as the public health situation normalizes.
Modi made the remarks when he spoke by phone with Putin to convey his greetings and best wishes to the Russian president on the occasion of his birthday.
“Both leaders agreed to stay in contact over the next few days, including about the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” the Foreign Ministry said.
“The prime minister expressed his enthusiasm to welcome President Putin to India as soon as possible after the normalization of the public health situation,” he added.
Modi also recalled his association and friendship with Putin, and appreciated the personal role that the Russian leader has played in fostering the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries.
The planned visit of the prime minister to Russia for a summit with the president and meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) did not materialize due to travel restrictions imposed in everyone after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 12th BRICS Summit will now take place on November 17 by videoconference.
Russia has also played a role in facilitating meetings between the foreign and defense ministers of India and China on the sidelines of the SCO meetings held in Moscow last month.
.
