‘Russia is India's trusted friend,' says PM Modi to Indians in Moscow

India is changing rapidly and the world is taking notice, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday (Jul 9) at an event organised by the Indian community in Moscow, Russia.

The PM highlighted that the country is brimming with confidence and achieving remarkable progress.

PM Modi also announced the opening of two Indian consulates in Russia at Moscow. One centre will come up in Kazan and another in Yekaterinburg.

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"Over 140 crore Indians are driving this resurgence of India. They dream big, make commitments, and then turn them into reality," he said.

While addressing the Indian diaspora, the Prime Minister also mentioned India's victory in the Men's T20 cricket World Cup that ended the 13-year ICC trophy drought for the Indian cricket team.

"Everyone here must have celebrated India's T20 World Cup win, but the true story lies in the incredible journey the team took to get there. The Indian squad embodies a spirit of resilience, refusing to give up until the very last moment. As the saying goes, victory ultimately favours those who never accept defeat," he said.

While talking about his government’s achievements, the Prime Minister said, "From hosting prestigious events like the G20 Summit to spearheading massive infrastructure projects like electrifying 40,000 kilometres of railways, India's ambitions and capabilities are on display. Space exploration, record-breaking engineering feats, and a commitment to clean energy through solar missions all contribute to India's rise as a global power. This success is driven by the immense potential of its 1.4 billion citizens and the talent of its diaspora around the world.

PM Modi further said India and Russia are working together to boost global prosperity.

"India-Russia ties are reaching new heights. With your hard work and honesty, you have contributed to the Russian society. I have been an admirer of the unique relationship between India and Russia," the Indian PM added.

"Our ties have been assessed time and again, and our friendship has always emerged stronger. I thank my friend, President Putin, for his leadership and efforts to strengthen our relationship. This is my sixth visit to Russia in the past 10 years, and we have met 17 times during this period," he said.

"I have taken a pledge to work three times as hard and three times as fast as I did in the first two terms. I assure you that in this third term, India will face and overcome every challenge. It's in my DNA to give 'chunauti' (challenge) to every 'chunauti' (challenge)," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)