India, Russia celebrate 70th anniv of diplomatic relations

India and Russia today kick- started celebrations to commemorate 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Speaking at an event here, which saw a display of Indo- Russian dance forms and music, G V Srinivas, Joint Secretary (Eurasia), the Ministry of External Affairs, said during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in October last year, both the leaders decided to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations with fanfare.
The then USSR established diplomatic relations with India on April 13, 1947, which was yet to gain independence then.
The year is also expected to see a series of cultural events to commemorate the occasion.

Anatoloy Kargapolov, Charge D'Affaires at the Russian Embassy in New Delhi, was also present on the occasion.