India, Russia Eye $100 Billion Trade by 2030 as C. P. Radhakrishnan Meets State Duma Chairman

New Delhi-  India and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations as Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan met a high-level Russian parliamentary delegation led by State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The meeting focused on expanding economic cooperation, strengthening parliamentary exchanges, enhancing counter-terrorism coordination and exploring new opportunities for collaboration in science, technology and cultural engagement.

During the discussions, Radhakrishnan expressed confidence that the two countries would achieve their ambitious target of $100 billion in annual bilateral trade by 2030, a goal agreed upon by the leadership of both nations.

Economic partnership emerged as a key focus of the meeting, with Radhakrishnan highlighting the growing scope for cooperation between India and Russia.

He expressed optimism about achieving the bilateral trade target of $100 billion annually by the end of the decade, reflecting the shared ambition to deepen economic engagement.

Beyond trade, the Rajya Sabha Chairman identified regional partnerships, scientific research, technological development and cultural exchanges as important areas for strengthening cooperation.

He also emphasised the role of people-to-people connections in maintaining the longstanding relationship between the two countries. Counter-terrorism cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, with Radhakrishnan thanking Russia for its continued support of India’s efforts to combat terrorism.

He highlighted the shared commitment of both countries to addressing security challenges and strengthening cooperation against terrorist threats.

The meeting also recalled recent parliamentary interactions between India and Russia, including the visit of an Indian delegation led by MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in May 2025.

The delegation, comprising five other Members of Parliament, had visited Russia in the context of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor.

These exchanges were highlighted as examples of continued parliamentary engagement on issues of national security and mutual concern.

Welcoming the Russian delegation, Radhakrishnan congratulated Vyacheslav Volodin on his re-election as Chairman of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s Federal Assembly.

He also conveyed his congratulations on the successful conduct of elections to the ninth convocation of the State Duma in September 2026.

The interaction reflected the importance both countries attach to maintaining regular dialogue between their parliamentary institutions.

Such exchanges provide opportunities for lawmakers to share experiences, discuss common priorities and strengthen institutional cooperation.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman also recalled a symbolic gesture by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the BRICS Summit held in New Delhi in September 2026.

During the summit, Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian-language edition of the Thirukkural, the classical Tamil literary work known for its teachings on ethics, governance and human values.

Radhakrishnan described the gesture as a reflection of the warmth and cultural understanding shared by India and Russia.

The discussion also touched upon the December 2025 visit of President Putin to India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, which provided another opportunity to strengthen high-level engagement.

Looking ahead, Radhakrishnan referred to preparations for commemorating the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Russia.

The milestone is expected to provide further opportunities to celebrate the longstanding partnership and encourage cooperation across multiple sectors.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman stressed that sustained dialogue and regular institutional engagement are essential for identifying practical areas of collaboration.

He reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening relations with Russia in ways that deliver mutual benefits to the citizens of both countries.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh and several Members of Parliament, including Raghav Chadha, Dr. K. Laxman, Sujeet Kumar, Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, Dr. Laxmi Kant Bajpai, Dr. Radha Mohan Das Agrawal and Sanjay Kumar Jha.

Senior officials, including Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P. C. Mody, Secretary to the Vice President of India Amit Khare and Secretary K. S. Somashekhar, were also present.

The interaction concluded with both sides reaffirming the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing bilateral cooperation.

The meeting highlighted the continuing significance of the India-Russia partnership, with trade expansion, security cooperation, technological collaboration and cultural exchanges remaining central to the relationship.