Russian Duma speaker meets Indian prime minister in Delhi

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin on Monday met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum.

Volodin is in India on his first foreign working visit since the new State Duma convened in late September.

He is leading the Russian delegation at the forum, which runs through Tuesday.

At the meeting, Volodin praised Russian-Indian relations.

“It is precisely this model of cooperation, based on respect and the absence of double standards, that Russia and India have developed under the leadership of the two countries’ leaders,” he said in a statement.

The event is being held in the Indian capital as India holds the BRICS chairmanship this year.

Russia and India describe their ties as a “special and privileged strategic partnership.”

The two countries have said they want to raise bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030 from nearly $70 billion in 2024-25.

Russia’s share of Indian crude oil imports reached a record 51% in July.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Modi met in New Delhi in September, on the eve of the BRICS summit, and discussed trade, energy and defense.

Putin has also noted preparations for the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.

BRICS originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the five founding members of the grouping, which has since expanded to 11 countries.