PM Narendra Modi today held a telephonic conversation with the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. During the conversation, the leaders held discussions on a range of key topics and other issues of mutual interest.
Deliberating on the details of the talks held between the two leaders, the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement said, “Following up on their meeting in Samarkand on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, the two leaders reviewed several aspects of the bilateral relationship, including energy cooperation, trade and investment, defence & security cooperation, and other key areas.”
Discussion over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has also been raised between the two leaders. In the context of the conflict, Prime Minister Modi reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way forward. It is pertinent to note that, ever since the crisis broke out, India has been consistent in its stance that dialogue and diplomacy remain the ways forward to de-escalate tensions. Notably, PM Modi, echoing his concern over the ongoing situation in Ukraine, during his meeting with President Putin said, “I know that today’s era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this.” The leaders met in September on the sidelines of the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Other significant topics being held up during the discussion include India-Russia joint collaboration during India’s Chairship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “He also looked forward to both countries working together during India’s chairship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” the PMO added. It is pertinent to note that India will host the next SCO Summit as chairman of the organisation in 2023.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, during their conversation, PM Modi also briefed President Putin on India’s ongoing Presidency of the G20, highlighting its key priorities.
Notably, amid the first G20 meeting held in Udaipur, Russian G20 Sherpa Svetlana Lukash has showered praise on India for making “Women-led development” one of the group’s top goals.
“Grateful to G20 India and G20 India Sherpa Amitabh Kant for putting ‘Women-led development’ as one of key priorities of G20. Women are catalysers of positive transformation,” Svetlana Lukash added.
Speaking further, the Russia Sherpa also lauded India for taking up another significant topic, Digital transformation during one of the G20 working group discussions. “Digital transformation and innovations are key drivers of growth and development and hence proposed by #G20India as cross-cutting topics at all the G20 working tracks,” she added.
Notably, India took over the Presidency of the G20 from Indonesia on December 1. As the new chair, India has been tasked with steering collective action for global governance in the face of shifting geopolitical dynamics. In all, during its presidency, India will host over 200 meetings in over 50 cities across 32 different work streams, of which a few have already been started. Under the theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth · One Family · One Future”, India has highlighted its key six priorities during its Presidency.
The six priorities identified by India for its G20 presidency include: Green Development, Climate Finance & LiFE; Accelerated, Inclusive & Resilient Growth; Accelerating progress on SDGs; Technological Transformation & Digital Public Infrastructure; Multilateral Institutions for the 21st century and Women-led development.
