Informal will be the new formal now in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic outreach. Days after Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, he will now be travelling to Sochi for another “informal” meeting, this time with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss issues pertaining to regional and global concerns as part of a “flexible agenda.”

Modi’s Russia visit will be just for a day, on May 21. This Modi-Putin meeting is different from the annual bilateral summit between the two strategic partners that will be held in the second half of the year, dates for which are still being worked out.

As for the present meeting on Monday, Modi will have one-on-one discussions with Putin on several issues followed by a lunch and a walk along the Black Sea. “There will be no formal terms of protocol and no set agendas,” sources said. They added that the “informal” meetings are part of PM’s vision for wider engagement with the world leaders apart from the regular state visits.

“PM attaches importance to this kind of diplomatic engagement using the trust and friendship to discuss the changes in the world situation and regional issues and boost relations,” sources said. They clarified that some aspects of bilateral issues may be discussed when the two leaders meet, the larger part of the bilateral will be reserved for the annual summit.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the meeting was planned at the invitation of President Putin. “This will be an important occasion for the two leaders to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective with the objective of further strengthening our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Both leaders will also discuss their respective national developmental priorities and bilateral matters. This informal Summit in Sochi between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin is in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest levels,” the MEA said.

Sources said respective domestic agendas and international issues impacting them will be discussed. “Opening of economic and commercial relations may be discussed and India will try to see how Putin’s domestic economic vision can help India. In this regard, energy is an important that will be discussed. India and Russia are looking at cooperation in third countries in civil nuclear sector,” sources said. Situation in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region willalso be discussed during the meeting.

The Modi-Putin meeting comes a week after the US pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) that has the backing of France, Germany, United Kingdom, Russia and China. US has also imposed trade restrictions on Russia and it is likely that its impact on India-Russia trade, particularly defence sale and purchase, may be discussed even though sources made it clear that India-Russia defence relationship cannot be dictated by anyone.

Courtesy: Pioneer: Friday, 18 May 2018 | PNS | New Delhi