Russia, Austria say PM Modi’s upcoming visits ‘significant’ for boosting ties

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to visit Russia and Austria beginning July 8, Moscow and Vienna said.

The Indian leader’s upcoming visits to these countries will be “significant” and “important” for boosting bilateral ties with India. The Prime Minister will first visit Moscow on July 8 and 9 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. He will then travel to Austria on July 9 and 10, which will mark the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 41 years.

RUSSIA VISIT
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday that Russia was expecting a “very important and full-fledged visit” by PM Modi that is crucial to sustain bilateral ties.

PM Modi’s programme in Moscow will be extensive and he and Putin will hold informal talks.

“Obviously, the agenda will be extensive, if not to say overbusy. It will be an official visit, and we hope that the heads will be able to talk in an informal way as well,” he said.

During the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit, PM Modi and Putin will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday while announcing the visit.

The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries. So far, 21 annual summits have taken place alternately in India and Russia.

The last annual summit was held on December 6, 2021 in Delhi. Putin had visited India to attend the meeting.

This will be PM Modi’s first visit to Russia in nearly five years. He last visited the country in 2019 when he attended a key economic forum in the Far East city of Vladivostok.

According to Peskov, India-Russia relations are at the level of strategic partnership. “We are expecting a very important and full-fledged visit, which is so crucial for Russian-Indian relations,” he was quoted as saying by the official Tass news agency.

AUSTRIA VISIT
Meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Saturday described PM Modi’s upcoming maiden visit to the country as a “significant milestone” and said it was an opportunity to deliberate on closer collaboration on “many geopolitical challenges”.

The upcoming visit will also coincide with 75 years of bilateral diplomatic relations between both countries.

“I very much look forward to welcoming @narendramodi, the Prime Minister of India, the world’s largest democracy, next week in Vienna. This visit is a special honour as it marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over forty years, and a significant milestone as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with India,” Nehammer tweeted.

“We will have the opportunity to talk about further deepening our bilateral relationship and closer cooperation on the many geopolitical challenges,” the Chancellor said.

Replying to his tweet, PM Modi thanked the Chancellor and said he looked forward to strengthening the relationship between India and Austria and exploring new avenues of cooperation.

“Thank you, Chancellor @karlnehammer. It is indeed an honour to visit Austria to mark this historic occasion. I look forward to our discussions on strengthening the bonds between our nations and exploring new avenues of cooperation. The shared values of democracy, freedom and rule of law form the bedrock upon which we will build an ever closer partnership,” the Prime Minister said.

The MEA earlier said PM Modi will meet Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with the Chancellor.

The Prime Minister and the Chancellor will also address business leaders from India and Austria.