PM Modi, Putin discuss ways to encourage bilateral trade in agricultural goods

|HT|

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday discussed the state of global energy and food markets and ways to encourage bilateral trade in agricultural goods, fertilisers and pharmaceutical products. The telephonic conversation between the two leaders comes three days after the Indian Prime Minister attended outreach sessions of the G7 Summit in Germany, where leaders of the seven of the world’s largest economies discussed ways to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions to end the war in Ukraine.

PM Modi and Putin reviewed the implementation of decisions made during the latter’s visit to India last December for the annual bilateral summit.

“In particular, they exchanged ideas on how bilateral trade in agricultural goods, fertilisers and pharmaceutical products could be encouraged further,” an official statement said.

“The leaders also discussed global issues, including the state of the international energy and food markets,” the statement said. “In the context of the ongoing situation in Ukraine, Prime Minister reiterated India’s long-standing position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy,” it added.

The leaders further agreed to maintain regular consultations on global and bilateral issues.

This was the fourth phone conversation between the two leaders this year.

They spoke on February 24, the day Russia launched the invasion of Ukraine, and Putin had briefed PM Modi at that time about the latest developments. They subsequently spoke on March 2 and March 7, when the Indian side was focussed on evacuated over 20,000 Indians from areas in Ukraine witnessing war.

During these conversations, PM Modi had appealed for an immediate cessation of violence and called on all sides to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue.

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