Visit to Russia productive: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday left for home after wrapping up his "productive" visit to Russia's Far East region during which he held summit talks with President Vladimir Putin and attended the Eastern Economic Forum. Before his departure, Prime Minister Modi said the outcomes of his visit will bring Russia and India closer.

"Thank you Russia! This has been a productive visit. The outcomes of this visit will bring Russia and India closer. Gratitude to President Putin, the Government and people of Russia for their hospitality," Modi tweeted, concluding his 36-hour visit. Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit this Russian Far East Region, on Wednesday held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during which they discussed ways to bolster cooperation in trade and investment, oil and gas, nuclear energy, defence, space and maritime connectivity.

The two sides signed 15 agreements/MoUs in areas such as defence, air, and maritime connectivity, energy, natural gas, petroleum and trade. Modi and Putin held the delegation-level talks at the India-Russia 20th Annual Summit after a two-hour tete-a-tete on board a ship, aimed at strengthening the special and privileged relationship between the two sides.

They discussed ways to bolster cooperation in trade and investment, oil and gas, mining, nuclear energy, defence and security, air and maritime connectivity, transport infrastructure, hi-tech, outer space and people-to-people ties. India on Thursday announced an "unprecedented" USD 1 billion line of credit for the development of Russia's Far East with Prime Minister Modi vowing that New Delhi will walk shoulder-to-shoulder with Moscow in its quest for the development of the resource-rich region.