A RIA Novosti correspondent reports: talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
The meeting was held at the Bharat Mandapam convention and exhibition center. Opening the conversation, Modi presented Putin with a gift - the ancient Indian treatise on life, the Tirukkural, in Russian.
"This book was written in India two thousand years ago. <...> It was written by the great writer Thiruvalluvar. He spoke about human life, about compassion, about governance, and his thoughts remain relevant to this day. <...> This book will help us improve our human ties between our two countries," the Indian prime minister said.
The Russian president thanked him and particularly noted his words about developing ties between the two states.
"With your comments, so it will be," he expressed confidence.
The last time the leaders met was less than two weeks earlier - on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek.
As the Kremlin has emphasized, Russia highly values the trusting relations that have developed between Putin and Modi. According to presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, they enjoy communicating in an informal setting, when it is possible to frankly exchange views on current issues.
Today the Russian president began a three-day visit to India, during which he will take part in the 18th BRICS summit and hold several bilateral meetings, including with the president of South Africa, the prime ministers of Malaysia and Ethiopia, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and the head of the BRICS New Development Bank.