EAM Swaraj's visit to EEF 'historic' for India-Russia relationship: Indian envoy

Viadivostok [Russia], September 7 (ANI): Indian High Commissioner to Russia Pankaj Saran on Thursday said that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to the Eastern Economic Forum is historic for India-Russia relationship.

Swaraj is on a three-day visit to Russia to attend the third Eastern Economic Forum.

Talking to ANI, Saran said that for the first time India has represented at this high-level, adding that it is a proud moment for Indians.

"This is a very historic day for India-Russia relationship. The Eastern Economic Forum is being organsied in Valdivostok for the past three years. It is that place in eastern Russia where there is huge natural resources, oil and gas, diamonds, timber, agriculture, fisheries ports and many other resources. For the development of the Far East, Russia had requested to India that it also invests here. The visit of Sushma Swaraj is a political signal that we are ready for this and we also want to contribute in the development of the the Far East region of Russia," he said.

He further informed that Swaraj held talks with the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Yury Trutnev, to strengthen cooperation between the Russian Far East and India.

The External Affairs Minister also launched the Russia Desk at the forum.

The Eastern Economic Forum this year is being held to present better conditions for doing business in the country's Far East in a bid to attract more foreign investment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will also take part in the forum and speak at a plenary session dubbed "The Far East: Creating New Reality" on Thursday.

The Eastern Economic Forum is considered as the biggest international communication platform for cooperation between businesses leaders and senior government representatives from Russia, the Pacific Region and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Swaraj had arrived the Russian port city of Vladivostok on Tuesday. (ANI)