New Delhi: Hailing Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “great friend of India” under whose guidance the bilateral “strategic partnership continues to grow from strength to strength”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the “friendship between India and Russia has stood the test of time”, as he announced a joint partnership to build commercial ships.
Delivering his virtual address at the Eastern Economic Forum, Mr Modi said the two countries will also be “partners in opening of the northern sea route for international trade and commerce” whole envisaging an “energy and trade bridge”. The PM said he was “extending an invitation for the governors of 11 regions of the Russian Far East to visit India at the earliest”.
Addressing President Putin, Mr Modi said: “I remember our detailed conversation during the boat ride from Vladivostok to Zvezda during my visit in 2019. You had shown me the modern shipbuilding facility at Zvezda and had…