NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 76th birthday and credited him for strengthening “special and privileged” strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow.Putin also thanked PM Modi for the warm and cordial welcome and hospitality extended to him and the Russian delegation during my visit to New Delhi during recently concluded Brics summit.“You are rightly enjoying deep respect from your compatriots and great authority on the global stage. It is impossible to overstate your personal contribution to strengthening the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia.

I would like to express my gratitude for the warm and cordial welcome and hospitality extended to me and the Russian delegation during my visit to New Delhi last week,” Putin said in his message to PM Modi.“The talks we held were undoubtedly substantive, frank, and productive. As always, it was a genuine pleasure to talk with you, and our discussions once again demonstrated your extraordinary political wisdom and foresight. We will, of course, continue our constructive cooperation on pressing bilateral and international issues for the benefit of our friendly nation,” he added.