Russia's Putin hosts PM Modi for private tete-a-tete, dinner
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was tonight hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin for a private tête-à-tête at Kremlin during which the two leaders touched upon issues of mutual interest for both countries. The meeting took place hours after Modi arrived here to a red carpet welcome. Putin also hosted a private dinner for Modi. “Building Druzhba-Dosti over dinner. President Putin hosts a private tête-à-tête for PM,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders shaking hands. Modi and Putin will hold 16th India-Russia Summit talks tomorrow at the Kremlin following which the two sides are expected to sign a number of pacts to expand cooperation in a number of key areas including defence, nuclear energy, hydrocarbons and trade. The talks between the two countries, bound by “special and privileged strategic ties”, have been taking place alternately in Moscow and New Delhi since 2000. In the nuclear energy sector,...