Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started his two-day Russia visit from Vladivostok, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin and visited the Zvezda shipbuilding complex in the region.
Modi and Putin will helm the India-Russia Annual Summit in Vladivostok. The prime minister will also attend the Eastern Economic Forum. Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit the Russian Far East Region.
During his visit to the shipyard, Modi was accompanied by Putin. The two leaders hugged and shook hands before their departure for Zvezda shipyard.
Modi interacted with the management and workers of the shipyard.
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 Oil Co. PJSC, Rosneftegaz AO and Gazprombank JSC. 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.
The two leaders will hold the 20th India-Russia Summit later on Wednesday.
Ahead of his Russia visit, Modi said he looked forward to discussing regional and international issues of mutual interest with Putin. "I look forward to discussing with my friend President Putin the entire gamut of our bilateral partnership as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest," he said in a departure statement in Delhi.
"I also look forward to meeting other global leaders attending the Eastern Economic Forum, and interacting with Indian Industry and business representatives participating in it," the prime minister said.
The Eastern Economic Forum focuses on development of business and investment opportunities in the Russian Far East Region and holds potential for developing India-Russia relations further.
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