India Russia Iron Out Wrinkles Before Putin’s India Visit

India, Russia Iron Out Wrinkles Before Putin’s India Visit Next Month

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Modi-Putin summit meet next month, India and Russia Wednesday took note of important outstanding issues requiring immediate attention and recommended early resolution of such issues "amicably in tune with the spirit of traditional friendship and mutual trust between the two countries''.

The 20th meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) was co-chaired here by foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

One of the "key'' decisions taken during the meeting was to work on a proposal for establishment of a Smart City in India by Russian company AFK Sistema.

"The commission reviewed the progress on a broad spectrum of bilateral issues including trade, economic, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation and suggested actions for realizing the full potential of this important relationship,'' the government said in a statement.

Rogozin later called on Modi who told him that he was looking forward to his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next month. Modi said India attached high importance to the special and privileged strategic ties with Russia.

He said Putin's visit would provide an opportunity to take forward bilateral relations to a new level.

"Social media has been increasingly used (in India) to instigate communal riots," the home minister said while calling upon Interpol to apply its 100 years of experience in tracking fugitives to study and track online activity aimed at indoctrination and recruitment of young internet users into jihad.

Home minister called upon Interpol to help tracking online activities aimed at indoctrination and recruitment of young internet users into jihad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to reshuffle his ministry by Monday amid strong possibility of Goa CM Manohar Parrikar joining the Union Cabinet. Source