Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold important bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, as part of his first visit to the country. Putin on Thursday morning gifted Modi a late 18th-century sword and a page from Mahatma Gandhi’s diary. The two leaders will discuss defence and nuclear energy deals, reports said. The leaders are also likely to expand cooperation in a number of key areas such as hydrocarbons and trade, in addition to discussing the ongoing crisis in Syria. Modi will also take up the issue of declassifying files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, reports said.

Modi landed in Moscow on Wednesday and attended an event at the Kremlin organised in his honour. He was also hosted by Putin at a private dinner. This is the 16th edition of the India-Russia bilateral summit.