India will never forget Russia's friendship: PM

At the beginning of the last decade of the last century, both the countries went through a difficult period of
political and economic change, he said.

"While Russia showed great resilience and resolve in regaining its place in the world, India opened itself and became more deeply integrated with the world economy," said the prime minister.

Russia was the first country with which India signed a Declaration of Strategic Partnership in 2000, he said.