“I am looking forward to developing the cooperation ,” Putin said
Ufa (Russia) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday resolved to take strategic bilateral ties forward and discussed India’s accession to the SCO.
“I am looking forward to developing the cooperation (between the two countries),” Putin said as the two leaders met here ahead of the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summits, reports PTI.
Modi, who is here primarily for BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summits, thanked Putin for the welcome he got on his arrival earlier in the day. He also thanked Putin with regard to India getting the membership of SCO with the process set to be complete by next year.
Modi mentioned that the Russian President himself called him to inform about the decision of the six-nation grouping.
The process of India’s accession to the SCO is beginning, Putin said, adding that it was “a very important event.” The Prime Minister, while talking about the close relationship between India and Russia, said he will be visiting this country again later this year for the annual bilateral summit meeting.
He thanked Putin with regard to the celebrations of Yoga Day on June 21 in Russia. He said it was held in all cities of Russia.
Yoga will provide holistic healthcare to the new generation in the world, Modi said. In response, Putin said, “I do not know how to do yoga. When you people do it, it looks difficult. That is why I have not tried it.”
Meanwhile, India and Pakistan’s admission to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will give new impetus to the development of the organisation, Alexander Lukin, director of the Centre for East Asia and SCO Studies, told TASS news agency.
“The entrance of India and Pakistan, and of Iran in a long-term perspective, as full-fledged members will be very useful for the SCO,” the Russian expert said on Tuesday. “It’s going to give a new impetus to the organisation’s development in areas like economy and security,” Lukin said.
