As India is bolstering its ties with all-weather friend Russia, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the Russian National Day event as a chief guest showing importance of ties between the two countries.

As a protocol event national day events are mainly attended by junior ministers. It was a rare occasion when Foreign Minister
Sushma Swaraj herself attended the Russian National Day event at Russian embassy in New Delhi. It shows that India accords high priority to its ties with Russia.

Russian envoy also cherished the contribution of Sushma Swaraj for strengthening India-Russia friendship.

“Let me take this opportunity to, first and foremost, thank our chief guest Sushma Swaraj ji for her personal valuable contribution to the strengthening of ties and cooperation between our countries, which is second to none,” Russian ambassador to India Nikolay Rishatovich Kudashev said while speaking on this occasion.

“Russia and India may proudly boast of their durable and multipronged ties, defining the true essence of a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Annual summits, held alternately in two countries, are key events of the year providing major boost to further advance of bilateral cooperation. We have seen recently a new phenomenon – an informal summit – meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sochi last month, which I had a privilege to attend and witness, the next annual summit is set for this October in India,” Nikolay Kudashev said.

Russian envoy said that, Russia-India friendship is like a single soul dwelling in two bodies.

“It comes as no surprise that it is our common goal to continue fulfilling the inexhaustible potential to Russia-India trade, investment, technological, scientific and cultural interactions as well as strengthening our cooperation multilaterally in the near future and beyond. Friendship and strategic partnership of Russia and India has all the prerequisites to thrive and blossom for the security and prosperity of not only our nations, but also the world at large,” Russian ambassador Nikolay Kudashev said.