Modi & Putin connect to combat COVID-19

MOSCOW/NEW DELHI: Renewing time-tested India-Russia partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held telephonic talks and underlined solidarity with each other in the common fight against the raging coronavirus pandemic. “The Prime Minister conveyed his good wishes for early recovery of all those suffering from the disease in Russia and expressed the hope that Russia’s efforts, led by President Putin, to fight the disease would be successful,” said India’s Ministry of External Affairs. President Putin conveyed his good wishes to PM Modi “for the success of measures adopted in India to combat COVID-19.” The two leaders agreed on further consultation and cooperation in adequately addressing all challenges faced by this major global crisis, including those pertaining to health, medicine, scientific research, humanitarian matters and impact on global economy. They stressed the significance of international cooperation for unitedly fighting COVID-19, including within the framework of G20. The Prime Minister appreciated the cooperation of Russian authorities in ensuring well-being of Indian students in Russia and hoped that the same would continue. President Putin assured all help in this regard. The Prime Minister told President Putin that Indian authorities concerned would continue to facilitate in all possible manner the efforts for ensuring the well-being and organised return of Russian nationals, as and when required. “The two leaders also agreed to continue their close cooperation for maintaining the excellent momentum and the warm of the cordial and time-tested bilateral relations. They reiterated that they looked forward to several opportunities for their interaction in person during the course of the year.” “In line with the ongoing confidential dialogue reflecting the special nature of the Russian-Indian strategic partnership, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi informed each other in detail about the measures introduced in both countries to counter the spread of this infection,” said a statement issued by the Kremlin. The telephonic conversation between Mr Putin and Mr Modi took place soon after both leaders imposed unprecedented restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19. PM Modi is expected to travel to Russia a few times in 2020 to attend multilateral summits and to participate in the Victory Day celebrations in May.