India, Russia ready to boost ties: Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday expressed Russia’s willingness to support India’s initiative to produce military products as part of ‘Made In India’ program.

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Lavrov said he and External Affairs Ministers Jaishankar during the meeting have taken a number of steps that will expand cooperation between India and Russia, including the launch of the North-South International Transport Corridor as well as establishment of the Chennai Vladivostok route. While addressing a press conference after his meeting with

Jaishankar, Lavrov said, “We have also discussed the prospects of military and technical cooperation, including the joint production of modern weaponry. We also have specific steps in the area. Our cooperation is of strategic nature, strengthening it corresponds to the national interests of states, the interests of Security in the Eurasian continent.”

“As mentioned before, we are respectful of the aspiration of our Indian colleagues to diversify their military and technical links. We also understand and hence we are ready to support their initiative to produce military products as part of the ‘Made in India’ program. We stand ready to cooperate in this area. We have reaffirmed our aspiration to strengthen energy cooperation,” he added.

Lavrov said he and Jaishankar agreed to expand legal framework of India-Russia relations, in particular to accelerate the adoption of the agreement on the mutual protection of investment.