Article Posted on : - Dec 11, 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin before a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Thursday. Photo: PTI.

NEW DELHI (PTI): As Russian President Vladimir Putin flew in here on Wednesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the visit will take the bilateral relations to "newer heights."

"Delighted to welcome President Putin to India. Looking forward to a productive visit that will take India, Russia ties to newer heights," Modi tweeted in Russian ahead of his talks with Putin today on close strategic ties particularly in the fields of nuclear energy, hydrocarbons and defence.

"Times have changed, our friendship has not. Now we want to take this relation to the next level and this visit is a step in that direction," he said in a post on the micro-blogging site.

The bond between people of Russia and India is very strong. Our nations have stood by each other through thick and thin, Modi added.