A red carpet welcome was accorded to United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi as she arrived in Moscow on Monday on a four-day visit to Russia as President Vladimir Putin's personal guest.
On a rainy Moscow morning, Gandhi was welcomed by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov, Deputy Railway Minister Vladimir Yakunin and other senior officials at the VVIP Vnukovo-2 airport.
Gandhi is accompanied by External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh. Talks with President Putin in his hometown St Petersburg on Wednesday would be the political centrepiece of her visit.
"This visit is an exceptional gesture of friendship made by the Russian president taking into account the high degree of importance attached by both sides to India-Russia