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Following is the text of the speech by the Prime Minister,
Dr. Manmohan Singh at the Banquet hosted by President
Putin in Moscow today:-
"Thank you for your warm welcome and words of sincere
friendship. My wife and I are truly honoured and happy
to be here. It is a privilege to experience the warm
hospitality and affection of the most generous First
Couple of Russia. To be among cherished friends is always
heartwarming. Mr. President, I fully reciprocate the
warm sentiments that you have expressed today. We in
India value your friendship and regard.
Fifty years ago, our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru visited this great city and laid the foundation
of an abiding friendship - a friendship based on mutual
trust and confidence. Today on that foundation stands
an impressive edifice. Today we share an even stronger
bond. We admire your far-sighted and committed leadership
in reinforcing this structure and thank you for the
personal attention you have devoted to the rejuvenation
and deepening of this relationship. I am convinced that
we will find even greater convergence in our efforts
as we move forward. I have no hesitation in saying that
communication between our two great nations has never
been so clear and lively.
It is fitting to recall the crucial assistance we received
from Russia in India's emergence as a country with a
fully developed industrial base. There is no significant
sector of our national endeavour in which we have not
benefited from Russia.
Today as before, Russia is a valued strategic partner.
Our relationship has adapted very successfully and productively
to current requirements. But what we will do together
in partnership draws on the legacy of cooperating for
mutual benefit. Our strategic relationship is based
on political consensus in both countries. Despite the
historic transformations underway in both countries,
the essence of our partnership has not been diluted.
The number of sectors of our cooperation has expanded
and the terms of our interaction have evolved. The friendship
our people bear for the Russian people endures.
We draw strength from the multi-cultural, and diverse
character of our respective societies. These values
and ideals allow us to understand each other's concerns
and aspirations and encourage us to work together in
multilateral forums in pursuit of common objectives.
We are united in our support for a multi-polar world,
and in our resolve to root out the menace of international
terrorism.
Our economic prosperity and mutual interest lie in closer
partnership in trade, investment, joint research and
development, in taking full advantage of the opportunities
available in an increasingly inter-connected and globalized
world. Energy security is a priority area for future
cooperation, as are the frontier areas of science.
I am confident our cooperation in the coming year will
be another significant landmark in the history of our
bilateral relations, taking our traditional friendship
to greater heights.
I request you to join me in a toast to:
- the health and well-being of Their Excellencies
the President and First
Lady of the Russian Federation;
- the further strengthening of the multi faceted cooperation
between
India and Russia; and
- everlasting friendship between our two countries
and peoples."
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