Jaishankar Volodin Meeting Boosts India-Russia Partnership Talks

New Delhi, October 26: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday met Vyacheslav Volodin, the head of Russia's State Duma, as both sides looked to widen cooperation between their countries. The meeting focused on bilateral partnership and the growing role of parliamentary channels.

Jaishankar later confirmed the meeting on X, saying he was glad to host Volodin and his delegation in New Delhi. He noted that the discussions covered not only bilateral cooperation but also new possibilities for strengthening relations between the two parliaments.

Parliamentary engagement had already been a focus a day earlier. On Sunday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Volodin and called for ongoing institutional linkages between Indian and Russian legislatures. The two also discussed regular exchanges of parliamentary delegations and dialogue among young and women lawmakers as ways to expand legislative cooperation.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership during the meetings. The engagements underline the importance both countries attach to parliamentary diplomacy alongside official-level dialogue.

Volodin's visit coincides with the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, which opened in New Delhi on Monday and runs for two days. In his address to the plenary session, he said that although BRICS members differ in political systems, economic models and traditions, they stand together in pursuit of a multipolar world. He said the bloc respects differing viewpoints and national laws and accepts that each country has the sovereign right to determine its own development path.

BRICS leaders shared their thoughts on how parliaments can strengthen people-centred growth. They also discussed the role legislatures play in maintaining the stability of government institutions that support future development.

Reflecting on the bloc's two decades, Volodin said BRICS has become one of the principal pillars of an emerging multipolar world and a just global order. He said it now ranks among the largest economic centres and represents the interests of most nations. Trade among members has climbed to 1.2 trillion dollars, while the group accounts for nearly a quarter of global exports.