Modi to visit Russia from Wednesday for EEF, bilateral summit

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia for two days starting Wednesday to attend the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) and the 20th annual summit between the two nations, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

Informing about Prime Minister's upcoming visit, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said that it would be a short trip of just 36 hours.

The Prime Minister will arrive in Vladivostok, a major Pacific port city in Russia, on September 4 morning and depart from there on September 5 evening, he said.

"There are two main purposes of this visit. PM Modi has been invited to attend the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) by Russian President Vladimir Putin as one of the chief guests. Secondly, he will also hold the 20th annual summit between India and Russia," the Foreign Secretary said.

Gokhale said that EEF was started by Russia in 2015 and have been attended by former Commerce and Industry Minister in 2018 and former External Affairs Minister in 2017. "We had regular political attendance at the Eastern Economic Forum."

The EEF, he said, is being held in Vladivostok since 2015 every year.

After his arrival, Modi and Putin will make a joint visit to one of the major ship building yards, Gokhale said, adding that they will visit a plant that makes vessels including ice breakers and oil tankers.

In the afternoon, they will be restricted at delegation level talks followed by dinner.

On September 5 morning, there will be some bilateral talks. The Head of State of Mangolia and the Prime Ministers of Japan and Malaysia will also be attending the EEF.

In the afternoon, the Foreign Secretary said, there will be an EEF plenary meeting. "And then just before the Prime Minister departs, President Putin and Prime Minister Modi will jointly visit a major judo championship which will take place in Vladivostok," he said.

Gokhale said a six-member Indian judo team is in Vladivostok to participate in the international championship.

"The Prime Minister will deliver an address. There will also be an India-Russia business dialogue and for this, a 50-member FICCI delegation is also going to Vladivostok at the same time," Gokhale added.