Face of Nation : PM Narendra Modi travelled on a ship with Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Zvezda shipbuilding complex, the first stop in his two-day visit to the Russian Far East Region.
“Strong winds propelling the India-Russia relationship! PM @narendramodi and Russian President Putin spending quality time together on board a ship on their way to ‘Zvezda’ Shipbuilding Complex,” MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.The two leaders were seen hugging and shaking hands when PM Modi came for the visit after landing on Wednesday morning in Vladivostok airport. They walked together to the boat and in a special gesture, President Putin decided to accompany PM Modi.
PM Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Russian Far East Region, will hold summit talks with President Putin and attend the Eastern Economic Forum. This is his third bilateral visit to Russia.
Ships built at the Zvezda shipyard “will be used to deliver Russian oil and liquefied natural gas to world markets, including India,” President Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying by Tass news agency.
The Zvezda shipyard is being set up on the base of the Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center by a consortium of Rosneft, Rosneftegaz and Gazprombank. The shipyard will produce heavy ships, offshore platform elements, ice-class vessels, special vessels, and other marine equipment, according to the Russian news agency.
