India has been invited as a Guest Country in the St. Petersburg International Forum, Official Spokesperson said, confirmin the news on Wednesday in a briefing to the reporters.
“This is to confirm that India has been invited as a Guest Country at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) which will be held in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia from June 1 to 3, 2017,” said MEA spokesperson Mr. Vikas Swarup.
The invite comes following the current visit of Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor (NSA), who visited Moscow to discuss security and anti-terrorism issues with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov. Recent media reports have said that Iran, Russia and India trilateral security arrangement is on the cards.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Forum as a Guest of Honour and other details of the visit are being worked out, and “we will announce them as and when they are finalized,” he said.
Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia attaches great importance to Modi’s visit.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is an annual event held in St. Petersburg devoted to discuss global economic and business issues. It is also called the “Russian Davos,” and the first conference was held in 1997.