Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time as the guest of honour will address the plenary session of the Saint Petersburg International economic forum in Russia today. Mr Modi met the Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission and former Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargasyan and negotiated free trade agreements with India in the region.

Prime Minister later in the day will meet the UN secretary General Antonio Gutteres.

India and Russia as part of the 70 years of celebration of friendship will be moving together in economic spheres with special importance to Make in India initiative.

Mr.Modi this morning met Buda Balzheivich Badmayev, the Head Priest of Datsan Gunzechoinei Buddhist Temple at St Petersburg and presented over 100 volumes of Urga Kanjur to Jampa Donor, The Urga edition of the Tibetan Kanjur was unknown till 1955 when Prof. Raghu Vira brought to India its complete set of 104 volumes with a volume including the catalogue which was presented to him by the Prime Minister of the Mongolian People’s Republic.

He also visited the State Hermitage Museum and the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts.

Yesterday both the countries signed the historic St.Petersburg declaration as a roadmap to enhance cooperation after 18th annual bilateral summit. The Joint statement issued proclaimed cooperation in all possible areas including defence, counter terror, intelligence sharing, connectivity initiative trade and nuclear energy.

Prime Minister expressed happiness at the signing of the St. Petersburg declaration. Addressing media persons at the Constantine Palace jointly with Mr. Putin, he said both sides have agreed to interact closely on various fields including economy, manufacturing and energy. Mr Modi said that a street in New Delhi will be named after Ambassador Alexander Kadakin.