PM Modi's two-day visit to Russia on September 4 and 5 will open a "new chapter" in alrey tight ties between Moscow and New Delhi, as both sides will look at expanding cooperation in a plethora of areas, including defence, tre, civil nuclear energy and hydrocarbons, Russia envoy in India Nikolay Kudashev stated on Wednesday

During his visit to Russia, PM Modi will attend Easten Ecomic Forum in Vlivostok and will hold annual bilateral summit with President of Russia Vlimir Putin.

PM Modi's Russia visit 

At a press conference, Russia envoy said summit between PM Modi and Vlimir Putin will lay a solid ground for exploration and promotion of a new dimension of mutually beneficial cooperation between two countries.

Ar Russia official said that New Delhi and Moscow are working towards finalisation of an agreement for setting up six more civil nuclear reactors in India, apart from Kudankulam project. Under Kudankulam project, Russia is building six nuclear reactors in India. 

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Russia on Kashmir

On situation in Jammu and Kashmir, envoy said Russia is strongly backing India's position on abrogation of Article 370 of Constitution and that New Delhi and Islamab should resolve outstanding issues through dialogue, based on Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration.

He said, "It is crystal clear that it belongs to Indian public, its decision to India's constitution, it is sovereign decision of Indian government. It is a constitutional matter of India and that it internal matter of India. sovereign decision of Indian government, it's an internal matter of India. All issues existing between India & Pakistan should be resolved through dialogue on basis of Shimla agreement & Lahore declaration." Roman Babushkin, Deputy Chief of Russian Embassy in India ded: "Russia has role to play in India-Pakistan dispute, unless both ask for mediation. During closed-door event at United Nations Security Council (UNSC), we reiterated that Kashmir is an internal issue of India."

Russia backed India in UN

NSA Ajit Doval visited Moscow last week on invitation of his counterpart, Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of Russian National Security Council and elaborately dicussed regional cooperation. Russia's deputy permanent representative, Dimitry Polyanskiy told reporters before entering closed door meeting of UN that Moscow's view is that it is a "bilateral issue" between India and Pakistan. He said meeting was being held to understand what is happening.

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"That's what closed consultations are for. What does Russia think next step should be- we favour bilateral track between india and Pakistan. You kw our position. It hasn't changed. Today we have closed consultations and we will just exchange opinions and see what we can do and what we cant do. It is a rmal process."  When asked if Russia was concerned over tense situation between India and Pakistan, Polyanskiy said, "we are very much concerned. We hope to avoid it. Asked if Council can play a useful role, he replied, "We first need to discuss and n we'll see." Replying to ar question, he said, "sometimes it is better t to touch upon such an issue. It's a bilateral issue," Russian diplomat said.

Vlimir Putin-led Russian government's support to India comes despite Pakistan's efforts to seek backing from global community over Kashmir.  

(With PTI inputs)