India-Russia must focus on expanding trade ties: Former ambassador

Terming the strategic, political, security and defence ties with Russia as excellent, the former Indian ambassador to Russia called for strengthening the economic relationship between both countries.

New Delhi: India-Russia partnership goes far beyond the cold war era. The strategic relationship which boomed in the 1990s when Russia was India's biggest trading partner is not the same anymore.

Speaking at an event in the national capital, India's former foreign secretary and also once an ambassador to Russia Kanwal Sibal emphasised on the lack of economic ties between both nations.

Calling the strategic, political, security and defence ties with Russia as excellent, the former diplomat said that the current economic relationship between both countries is the weakest.

"We need to take cognizance of the fact that unless we increase and expand our trade, our societies will not be able to create mutual bonds which are needed," said Sibal.

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a five trillion dollar economy in the next five years, Kanwal said that this will open new opportunities for India-Russia to strengthen economic ties.