New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke on the telephone to Russian President Vladimir Putin and had an "exchange of views" on various international issues.
In their conversation, the two leaders followed up on some of the issues discussed during the recent visit of President Putin to India.
"The exchange today helped firm up the future course of action on these issues, including opportunities for furthering defence cooperation, cooperation in supply of fertilizers, enhancement of India's engagement with the Russian Far East," an official PMO statement said.
"The conversation also allowed an exchange of views on international issues".
The two leaders agreed to remain in regular touch on all aspects covered under the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, and to continuously strive to "further deepen" bilateral cooperation as well as consultation and coordination in multilateral fora.
Mr Putin was in Delhi for Summit talks with Prime Minister Modi.
Both sides had sought to open up a new vista in ties at the New Delhi summit and pledged to reboot a relationship that has stagnated in recent years after India enhanced its relationship with the US and Moscow moved closer to Beijing.
Putin called India “a great power, a friendly nation, and a time-tested friend,” and for his part sharing the optimism of his Russian guest, PM Modi said that despite the emergence of different geopolitical equations in the last few decades, “the friendship between India and Russia has been a constant.”
Several defence-related agreements have been reached between two sides.
Despite many changes and sustained US pressures, Russia is still India’s largest arms supplier.
