ST. PETERSBURG, June 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes that the Russian visit of Sonia Gandhi, chairwoman of the Indian National Congress party, would be useful and pleasant. He said this welcoming Gandhi in the Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg, where he had attended the International Economic Forum.
"I hope you liked your stay in Moscow and your visit to St. Petersburg will be comparably useful," the president said. He congratulated Sonia Gandhi on her reelection to the post of INC leader.
Putin also invited her children to visit Russia. "I hope you will share your impressions with them and we will have the pleasure to welcome them in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities" of Russia, he said.
Sonia Gandhi said she had planned to come to Russia with her son but he could not use this opportunity, though he wanted to come very much. She said it is her seventh visit to Russia.
"I have been to your country six times," she said, "and my children, son and daughter, had accompanied me on my previous visits." Gandhi said giant changes had taken place in Russia since her last visit.
Sonia Gandhi said that apart from political contacts she had a big cultural program this time. She said she had visited cultural and religious centers and museums in Moscow and the ancient Russian cities of Vladimir and Suzdal, where she admired the work of the masters who had restored unique architectural monuments, in particular the church in Vladimir. Gandhi also plans to see the cultural sights of St. Petersburg and its environs.
The INC leader thanked Vladimir Putin for the invitation to Russia. "I am grateful for this gesture and will keep the best of impressions from this visit," she said. Russia and India have developed good ties in all spheres, including trade, the INC leader said. She said she supported the opinion of the Indian premier who thinks that additional steps should be taken to promote mutual trade.
Our defense cooperation is proceeding well, she said. In her opinion, Russia and India have a big potential for promoting cooperation, in particular in high and biotechnologies, power engineering, and oil and gas.
Sonia Gandhi said the premier of India planned to make a visit to Russia in November. Apart from political exchanges, which are regular, we should also develop contacts between people, which are no less important, and we will facilitate the development of relations and ties between civil societies, the INC leader said.
She also said that India was watching with great interest the VE-Day celebrations in Russia. The fact that so many world leaders came to Moscow for the celebrations testifies to the giant role of Russia and its prestige in the world, Sonia Gandhi said.
