Moscow, October 13

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday described India as Russia’s “privileged strategic partner”.”India is Russia’s especially privileged strategic partner,” said Putin in an interview ahead of his visit to Goa to attend the BRICS Summit.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)”Cooperation between our countries is making good headway in all areas on the basis of strong traditions of friendship, trust and mutual respect,” Putin said in response to questions from IANS.Putin said Russia remained India’s leading supplier of advanced weapons and defence technology as the two countries have been active military partners.”Our countries actively collaborate in the military technical field. Russia remains in the lead in terms of both direct supplies of most advanced weapons and military equipment and conducting joint researches with India as well as producing goods for military purposes,” Putin told IANS in an interview.”The construction of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the development of a new, fifth generation fighter aircraft are mong the successful joint projects,” Putin said in response to questions ahead of his visit to Goa to attend the BRICS Summit.He said many of the Russian projects in India not only have commercial importance, but also play a significant social and economic role for the economies of the two countries.Such projects “harmoniously fit in the new Indian industrialisation programme” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin said, referring to Modi’s “Make in India” initiative.
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