Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting old friend Russia to attend the fifth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), on a 36 hours visit. He will reach Vladivostok on September 4 in the morning and depart for New Delhi on September 5 in the evening.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale in a press briefing told media that PM Modi is visiting Russia on the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, to be one of the chief guests at the EEF. He will also attend the twentieth annual summit between India and Russia.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also visited Russia to prepare the ground for the all important visit where bilateral trade and investment will be discussed. India is Russia’s biggest defence purchaser and both countries are likely to sign many pacts on defence, industrial cooperation, energy and nuclear sector amongst others.
With the abrogation of Article 370 in the Kashmir valley and Pakistan and China’s stand on it, the South Asian situation too is most likely to be discussed during the meeting between PM Modi and President Putin.
The EEF will also be attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga. Indonesia too will have a ministerial representation at the annual EEF for the first time.
Around seventy business events and many panel discussions, with an aim of expanding international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and developing the economy in the Far East region of Russia are lined up at the annual EEF.