The President’s telegram said, in particular:
“I have warm memories of the welcome and hospitality you showed us during our visit to New Delhi. I sincerely value the friendly relations and mutual understanding that I have with you, the leader of India’s ruling party. You carry on the Gandhi family’s legacy, working consistently to strengthen democracy, further India’s social and economic development, and improve the international security system and global order, and these efforts have won you great confidence from your people and much respect and influence around the world.
Russia values highly your contribution to preserving and building on the longstanding traditions of friendship between our countries and your efforts in taking us to a new level in our relations – that of a privileged strategic partnership. I hope for your continued support of our joint efforts to expand and develop our multifaceted bilateral cooperation.
Russian-Indian ties continue their rapid development today and we are enriching them with promising new projects and initiatives in the political, economic, cultural, and scientific spheres. I am sure that the upcoming visit to Russia by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will help to take us to new milestones in our cooperation in the interests of our peoples.”