India-Russia talks: Modi thanks Putin for Amethi rifle factory
Bikshek, Jun 13 (UNI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held delegation-level talks here on the sidelines of the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit which commenced here on Thursday.
Both the leaders have identified oil link for deeper cooperation between the two nations, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told a media briefing here.
"This is an area which we feel, we should engage. And that process has started," he said, adding a delegation from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has already held discussions with Russian side.
"This is something which both the leaders felt we should take forward," Gokhale said.
"Both the leaders also looked at the great opportunities at another area and that is using skilled Indian manpower for development of the far east region," he said adding it is vast but it is also underpopulated.
He said plans are also afoot for India-Russia Inter-Governmental Consultation which is headed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar from the Indian side.
Defence cooperation
It is planned that there will be a Russia, India and China (RIC) trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan.
Discussions between PM Modi and Russin leader Putin also touched on defence-related issues.
"Prime Minister thanked President Putin for the quick response from Russia on 'Make in India' programme to manufacture Kalashnikov rifles in Amethi," Gokhale said adding this is a project that was put up in record time.
The Foreign Secretary added, "In the process we move away from buyer seller relationship."
During the bilateral engagements, Modi extended his gratitude to the Russian leadership for conferring the highest civilian award on him.
Takeaways
"The way you took up the project in Amethi, I am very grateful to you," he told the Russian president adding "it appeared you took personal interest.'
Gokhale said it was a brief meeting but "very rich meeting in terms of content."
The next bilateral meeting between two sides will take place within two months, he said.
President Putin also invited Prime Minister Modi to be the main guest at Eastern Economic Forum meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, in early September.
Modi has accepted the invitation.
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