India-Russia share special trust and friendship: Putin

Modi thanked the Russian president for playing crucial role in getting India Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) membership.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasising that there has not been a single low point in decades long India-Russia relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said both countries share a special bond of trust and friendship.

PM Modi and Russian President Putin

Putin, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in St Petersburg today, said, "A special nature of trust and friendship exists in the relations between the two countries and its people."

Modi said both nations believe in the benefit and happiness of all.

"In relations there are ups and downs but India and Russia have not seen ups and down in their relations," Modi said.

Modi also remembered the sacrifices made by Russian people especially by President Putin's brother.

Both leaders held discussion on range of issues

Prime Minister Modi and President Vladimir Putin held wide-ranging talks on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interests, including ways to boost energy and trade ties. At the beginning of their restricted meeting, Modi told Putin he was happy to be able to visit his hometown as Prime Minister. This is for the first time Indo-Russia summit in Russia was happening outside Moscow in St Petersburg.

Modi visits Piskarevskoye Memorial Cemetery

Modi mentioned to Putin about his visit to the cemetery this morning where he paid homage to the victims of the World War II.

"You are a leader whose family has given sacrifices. Your brother was martyred," Modi told Putin.

Putin's brother was killed 70 years ago in the siege of Leningrad during the World War II.

He thanked Modi for visiting the war memorial, saying such places have special place in Russian people's heart.

Modi laying wreath at war memorial

The two sides are expected to sign 12 agreements in wide- ranging sectors, including in science and technology, railways, cultural exchanges and other business areas between private parties also, in addition to a "vision statement" that the two leaders will release. They are likely to ink a deal to build the last two units of India's largest nuclear power plant in Kudankulam.

"Normally, international relations see ups and downs but history is witness Indo-Russia relations have not seen any ups and downs," the prime minister said and thanked the Russian president for playing crucial role in getting India Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) membership.

Putin said India will become a full-fledged member of the SCO in a week.

(OneIndia News with PTI inputs)