Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed the strength of Russia-India ties at the “Russia and India: Towards a New Agenda for Bilateral Relations” conference, emphasizing the “especially privileged strategic partnership” between Moscow and New Delhi. Praising India’s independent foreign policy, Lavrov highlighted India’s growing global influence as a major political and economic power in the emerging multipolar world. Lavrov underscored the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations, built on equality, mutual trust, and respect. He referenced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to India, which led to key agreements across sectors, and expressed anticipation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia.