India assures Russia of all cooperation in strengthening relationship

New Delhi: India on Wednesday assured Russia that it would extend all possible cooperation in further strengthening the ties between the two countries to strong bilateral relations and collaboration in multifaceted dimensions.

Russia also stressed on the need to build on strong people-to-people contacts.

The remarks came during a meeting with Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev, a Home Ministry statement said.

Remembering his visit to Sochi in Russia in 2015 during the Immigration Ministers' meeting, Rijiju emphasized on the time-tested, friendly and strong relations between India and Russia and "assured to extend all possible cooperation in further strengthening the ties so that the strong bilateral relations can be leveraged to build partnership and collaboration in multifaceted dimensions".

Citing threat of fundamentalism and terrorism in various form in both the countries, he asserted that Russia and India should stand together in the global fight to address the menace of terrorism and also reiterated that concerted efforts by cooperation of global community are important to eliminating this menace.

Rijiju also apprised the Russian Ambassador about the multipronged approach of the Indian government in handling the security situation in the country.

"The efforts of the government of India in strengthening the internal security and discouraging the centrifugal forces have been given boost by decision of demonetization by Prime Minister by checking fake currency and flow of money among the anti-social elements.

"The NDA government has demonstrated strong resilience in last three years in containing the insurgency. Despite being home to second largest population of Muslims, the effect of ISIS is minimal in India due to the wisdom of the community leaders and the parents. However, the government is also carrying out de-radicalization and counter-radicalization programme," Rijiju said.

While reiterating that the relations reflect the aspirations of two growing economies, the Russian Ambassador impressed upon the need to build on strong people to people contacts and said "the bilateral cooperation is on the rise with enhanced level of cooperation in multi-lateral fora like Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS."

He also envisaged more opportunities for cooperation in future between the two countries.

IANS