Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the strategic partnership between India and Russia has now been elevated into a “special privileged strategic partnership” as he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi for their first informal summit.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Modi said India and Russia have been friends for a long time and thanked President Putin for inviting him.

Recalls visit with Vajpayee

Mr. Modi recalled his first visit to Russia with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001. He said Mr. Putin was the first world leader whom he met after becoming the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

He said the seeds of the ‘strategic partnership’ sown by Mr. Vajpayee and President Putin has now grown into a “special privileged strategic partnership” between the two countries.

Mr. Modi thanked Russia for playing a major role in helping India get a permanent membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation - an eight nation bloc which aims at military and economic cooperation between the member states.

India and Pakistan were admitted last year into the organisation.

“We are working together on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and BRICS,” Mr. Modi said.

Welcoming Mr. Modi to Sochi, Mr. Putin said his visit would give a fresh impetus to bilateral ties.

He said Russia and India have been cooperating on several fronts in the multilateral and the international fora. He also mentioned military cooperation between the two countries.