Prime Minister Narendra Modi was today conferred Russia’s highest national award “The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle” by President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony in St. Andrew Hall in the Kremlin, Moscow. PM Modi received the award, which was announced in 2019, for his contribution to fostering India-Russia ties, the Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press release.

Constituted over 300 years ago, Narendra Modi is the first Indian leader to be conferred with this award.

While accepting the award, Prime Minister dedicated it to the people of India and to the traditional bonds of friendship between India and Russia.

“This honour is not just mine, this is the honour of 140 crore Indians. This is the honour of the centuries-old deep friendship and mutual trust between India and Russia. This is the honour of our special and privileged strategic partnership,” Narendra Modi said.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister held discussions with Putin at the Kremlin. In a post on X, the he informed that the leaders’ talks “covered ways to diversify India-Russia cooperation in sectors such as trade, commerce, security, agriculture, technology and innovation.” He also said that he and Putin “attach great importance to boosting connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.”

PM Modi has wrapped Russia visit and emplaned for Vienna, Austria where he will meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Karl Nehammer in the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to the country in over 40 years.