By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with the two leaders reviewing the progress of bilateral cooperation across a range of areas.
This was their second meeting this year. Modi and Putin had earlier met on August 31 on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.
During Friday’s meeting, the two leaders discussed cooperation in political, economic, defence, energy, space, skill mobility and people-to-people ties.
They welcomed the first-ever edition of Russia’s International Industrial Exhibition, INNOPROM India, which was held in India from September 9 to 11. The two leaders underlined the exhibition’s potential to further strengthen trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries.
Modi and Putin also visited the exhibition and interacted with participating representatives.
The leaders exchanged views on India-Russia cooperation in the multilateral sphere, particularly within BRICS, which is being chaired by India in 2026. They also discussed key regional and global developments, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region.
The two sides noted the impact of these conflicts on maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers.
Modi reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy were the way forward for resolving conflicts and said India was ready to contribute to peace efforts.
The two leaders agreed to remain engaged to further strengthen the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between India and Russia, which, they said, had continued to grow despite geopolitical uncertainties.
Putin also invited Modi to visit Russia for the 24th India-Russia Annual Summit. The Prime Minister accepted the invitation.
The dates for the summit will be finalised through diplomatic channels based on mutual convenience.