Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives Russia’s highest Order of St. Andrew the Apostle from President Vladimir Putin in Moscow

Moscow: Apna Punjab Media: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was officially awarded the ‘Order of St. Andrew Apostle’ by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. This honor has been given to PM Modi for his contribution in promoting bilateral relations between the two countries. President Putin greeted Prime Minister Modi at a special ceremony at the Kremlin’s St. Andrew Hall. This award was announced in 2019. Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian leader to receive this honour. In the year 1698, Tsar Peter the Great established the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle in honor of St. Andrew, the first preacher of Jesus and the patron saint of Russia. Accepting the award, Prime Minister Modi dedicated it to the people of India and the traditional bond of friendship between India and Russia. According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, he said the honor underlines the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries. After receiving the award, Modi said, “I am very grateful to you for honoring me with Russia’s highest civilian honour. This honor is not just mine, it is the honor of 140 crore Indians. “It is a tribute to the centuries-old and deep friendship and mutual trust between India and Russia.” The Prime Minister said that under the leadership of President Putin, India-Russia relations have strengthened in every direction and reached new heights. He said, “You laid the foundation of strategic relations between the two countries, which has become stronger with time. “Our mutual cooperation, based on people-to-people partnership, is becoming the hope and guarantee of a better future for our people.