“Russia is India’s old-time friend. We share long-standing historical ties, and Mr President is my personal friend, and a friend of India… Russia and you specifically always played a very important role in my political career. In 2001, when I served as Chief Minister of Gujarat, I made my first visit to Russia with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. And you were the first international leader I met as Chief Minister. Moscow and you yourself marked the beginning of my career.”
— India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russian President Vladimir Putin at their first informal summit in the sea resort of Sochi on May 21, 2018
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