In Pics: PM Modi Received By Russia's First Deputy PM, Accorded Guard Of Honour In Moscow

The Indian community gathered outside the hotel, where PM Modi intereacted with them. Indian diaspora are also playing dhol to welcome PM Modi at the hotel. Russian devotees sing bhajans outside PM Modi's hotel in Moscow. They were seen singing and dancing to 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' bhajan. People dressed in Indian attire expressed enthusiasm to welcome PM Modi.

Russia's First Deputy PM Denis Manturov received PM Modi at the airport. Russian artists in Moscow perform on Hindi songs to welcome PM Narendra Modi. PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. During his visit to Moscow, PM Modi will hold a meeting with Russian President Putin today. PM Modi will attend a community event in Moscow on Tuesday.

Notably, PM Modi and Putin have met 16 times over the past 10 years. The last in-person meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in 2022. In 2019, PM Modi was conferred the highest Russian state honour 'Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First'.

Ahead of PM Modi's visit, the Indian diaspora on Monday expressed enthusiasm to welcome PM Modi. Savika, a member of the Indian diaspora said, "I am very excited. I have seen him (PM Modi) only on TV and this will be the first time I will see him in person and I am very happy that the Prime Minister is coming here." Young members of the Indian diaspora in Moscow also raised slogans of 'Vande Mataram' and cheered for PM Narendra Modi ahead of his arrival to the country.

Earlier on Sunday, India's Ambassador to India, Vinay Kumar said, "The program includes a private meeting with President Putin, delegation-level talks, restricted talks, luncheon hosted by President Putin for Prime Minister and his delegation, visit to an exhibition centre in the VDNKH Complex, Rosatom Pavilion, and also exchange of documents which we are preparing to sign and exchange during the visit." "Prime Minister will also address a gathering of Indian community members who are very eagerly looking forward to this visit to Moscow by Prime Minister after a gap of nine years. The last Prime Ministerial visit to Moscow was in 2015. So these are some of the important elements of the program," he added.

Notably, India and Russia have a longstanding and time-tested relationship with more than 77 years of mutually beneficial diplomatic ties. The relations between the two nations were elevated to the level of "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" in 2010. After concluding his visit to Russia, PM Modi will depart for Austria in what is the first visit to the nation by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years.