PM Modi recalled his visit to Russia in 2001 as Gujarat chief minister in the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's delegation which met President Vladmir Putin on Wednesday.

Modi tweeted four photographs, two from the 2001 visit and two from the ongoing trip. The prime minister shared the photos after he concluded talks with President Putin at the 20th India-Russia 20th Annual Summit. On Thursday, he will attend the Eastern Economic Forum as the chief guest.

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"While participating in the 20th India-Russia Summit today, my mind also went back to the India-Russia Summit of November 2001 when Atal Ji was PM. That time, I was honoured to be a part of his delegation as Gujarat CM," the prime minster tweeted, along with the photographs.

PM Modi Russia visit 2001

While participating in the 20th India-Russia Summit today, my mind also went back to the India-Russia Summit of November 2001 when Atal Ji was PM. That time, I was honoured to be a part of his delegation as Gujarat CM.

In one of the photographs from 2001, Modi is seen signing a document sitting beside Vajpayee and in another he is standing with the then Defence Minister Jaswant Singh.

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Earlier, Modi said: "I had the opportunity to meet President Putin for the first time in 2001. I came to Moscow with then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I was the Chief Minister of a state (Gujarat), and this was our first meeting.

"However, Putin did not make me feel like I was less important; that I was from a small state or that I am new. He treated me amicably, as a friend. This opened the doors of friendship," Modi told Russia's state-run Tass news agency.

"We have discussed not only the issues related to our states; we have talked about various issues, our hobbies, global issues. We talked openly, as partners. He is a very interesting person to talk to, and I admit that we have very enlightening conversations."

PM Modi Russia visit September 2019

PM Modi on Wednesday held delegation meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 5th Eastern Economic Forum. Addressing a joint statement, PM Modi lauded his 'great friend' Vladimir Putin and called the relationship between India and Russia "an unprecedented partnership".

PM Modi and the Russian President also witnessed the exchange of 15 documents announcing new areas of cooperation including connectivity, deep-sea exploration, space, energy among others between the two countries. During the joint statement at Vladivostok on Wednesday, PM Modi also spoke on the importance of working together between India and Russia on many global forums like BRICS and SCO. 

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