PM Modi congratulates Xi Jinping on re-election as President

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his victory in the presidential elections which concluded on Sunday.

Modi also congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on his re-election for a second five-year term, saying he looks forward to work with him to further develop India-China relations.

Conveying his compliments to Putin, prime minister expressed hope that under Putin's leadership the 'Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership' between India and the Russian Federation would continue to grow from strength to strength, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said.

Modi also stated that he looks forward to welcome President Putin for the Annual Summit in India, later this year.

Putin thanked Modi for the phone call. He conveyed his commitment to further strengthen India-Russia relations in all spheres, and also his good wishes for the continued progress of India and her people, the MEA statement said.

Putin's victory means that his political dominance in Russia will be undisturbed until 2024, making him the longest ruler since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

In an outcome that was never in doubt, the Central Election Commission, with nearly 100% of the votes counted, announced that 71-year-old Putin, who has run Russia as president or prime minister since 1999, had won 76.68% of the votes.

Xi's election, especially following a constitutional amendment a week earlier which lifts presidential-term limits, means he can stay on indefinitely.

Xi, 64, was unanimously elected by the 2,970 deputies of Chinese parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC) last week.

This comes against the backdrop of India and China currently making diplomatic efforts to improve the relations following the 73-days long standoff at Doklam in Bhutan close to the Sikkim section.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale recently visited Beijing and held talks with top level Chinese officials.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers' meet on April 24.

She is likely to have a separate dialogue with her Chinese counterpart, which may contribute to confidence-building measures by this year-end to improve the bilateral relations.

Sushma's visit will be followed, immediately, by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's trip to China, also in April.

Modi and Xi are expected to meet on the side-lines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held at the Chinese city of Qingdao in June this year.