Moscow reveal details of Lavrov’s visit to India

The Russian foreign minister will attend a full-format two-day event in New Delhi

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit India in May for the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, Moscow has confirmed.

India is the current chair of the group.

“A substantive and in-depth discussion of current international issues and prospects for improving the global governance system” is expected during Lavrov’s visit, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

Preparations for the 18th BRICS Summit, to be held in New Delhi in September, which Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to attend, will also be on the agenda.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also slated to visit Moscow later this year.

Lavrov will also engage in bilateral talks with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. “We plan to discuss the full range of bilateral relations, including the schedule of upcoming contacts at the highest, high and working levels,” Zakharova said.

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New Delhi is set to receive the fourth unit of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system from Russia in May, PTI reported on Tuesday.

In October 2018, India signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the missile systems, of which three have already been delivered. New Delhi also reportedly plans to place new orders.

Negotiations for the supply and production of the Su-57 fighter jet in the South Asian nation are at a “deep technical stage,” Vadim Badekha, CEO of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), said in January.

Russia is keen to receive “an unlimited number” of skilled workers from India as part of a labor mobility pact signed during Putin’s visit to India last December.