Tashkent, June 24 (IANS) India and Russia on Friday discussed cooperation in civil nuclear energy and partnership in the gas and petrochemicals sector during a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin here.
Modi met Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit here.
During the meeting, "Putin said India is a special and privileged partner. There is long standing friendship between Russia and India", said a statement by the External Affairs Ministry.
Putin also welcomed India signing the Memorandum of Obligations of SCO and looked forward to India's Chairmanship of BRICS -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- which has grown in influence.
Modi thanked Russia for its support in SCO and said India as BRICS chair would keep up the momentum generated by Russia. Russia had hosted the last BRICS summit at Ufa in last July.
The two leaders discussed cooperation in civil nuclear energy, and partnership in the gas and petrochemicals sector. They also discussed furthering cooperation in the space sector. Matters relating to trade and investment also came up.
Both leaders recalled old cultural connections and agreed to find ways to further invigorate cultural ties, the statement said.
