Modi, Putin Discuss Strategic Partnership, Bilateral Trade

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday discussed the India-Russia strategic partnership, including efforts to increase bilateral trade turnover to US$100 billion by 2030, TV BRICS reported, citing Asian News International (ANI).

The leaders also discussed cooperation in key areas, including energy, critical minerals and agriculture, as well as the employment of qualified Indian specialists in Russia, according to ANI.

The bilateral talks took place on the eve of the 18th BRICS Summit in India.

During the meeting at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in New Delhi on Friday, Modi presented Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, a book written 2,000 years ago in India by poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar.

Upon presenting the gift, Modi said that it encompassed “the entire gamut of human life”.

“I am confident that the people-to-people contact will increase with the translation of the Thirukkural into Russian, which will play a big role in strengthening our relations,” Modi said.

The Thirukkural is a classical Tamil text consisting of 1,330 couplets (kurals), each comprising two lines which also serves as a guide to a virtuous life. Scholars from around the world regard the work as a masterpiece of aphoristic literature, according to ANI.

Later, Modi and Putin also visited the INNOPROM exhibition, organised by the ministries of industry and trade of both countries in the Indian capital.

-- BERNAMA