Putin, Modi hold in-person talks in India

APD NEWS

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Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held the 21st annual summit between the two countries in New Delhi on Monday.

It was the first in-person meeting between the duo since they met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brasilia, Brazil, in November 2019.

Prior to the summit, the two countries held the first 2+2 dialogue during which their foreign and defense ministers of both sides discussed issues of mutual interest.

A joint statement published after the talks said Russia and India had "reiterated their intention to strengthen defense cooperation, including in the joint development of production of military equipment."

One of the bilateral agreements will see India produce more than 600,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles. In addition, Russia said it was interested in continuing to provide S-400 air defense missile systems.

India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the two countries had signed 28 investment pacts, including deals on steel, shipbuilding, coal and energy. He added that a 2018 contract for the S-400 missile systems was currently being implemented.

"Supplies have begun this month, and will continue to happen," he said, referring to the S-400.

The deal with Moscow puts India at risk of sanctions from the United States under a 2017 U.S. law aimed at deterring countries from buying Russian military hardware.

Russian oil company Rosneft said it signed a contract with Indian Oil to supply up to 2 million tons of oil to India by the end of 2022.

The countries also signed a memorandum of understanding for Russia to send an uninterrupted supply of coal to India to support its steel production, among other deals.

Putin and Modi also discussed the situation in Afghanistan, voicing their commitment to ensuring that the country will never become a safe haven for international terrorism.

(Reuters)