Moscow, July 9: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday was conferred Russia's highest civilian honour, Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, by Russian President Vladimir Putin for his contribution to fostering bilateral ties between the two countries.

The award, which was announced in 2019, was bestowed upon him in a special ceremony in St Andrew Hall in the Kremlin.

Soon after receiving the award, Modi thanked President Vladimir Putin and said, “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you (Putin) for honouring me with Russia's highest (civilian) award. This honour is not just mine, this is the honour of 140 crore Indians.”

“This is the honour of the centuries-old deep friendship and mutual trust between India and Russia. This is the honour of our special and privileged strategic partnership,” PM Modi added.

The award was presented to Modi by Putin after they held the bilateral talks in Moscow's Grand Kremlin Palace on the second day of the Prime Minister's visit to Russia. Modi is the first Indian leader to be conferred with this award, which was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia.

"In the last 2.5 decade, under your leadership, India-Russia relations have flourished across all fronts, reaching new heights with each passing milestone. The strategic foundation you laid between our two nations has only grown stronger over time. Our collaborative efforts, rooted in a people-to-people partnership, are shaping a promising future for both our peoples," stated the prime minister upon receiving Russia's highest civilian honour.

Before presenting the award, Putin reiterated that the order was presented to Modi in recognition of his distinguished contribution to developing a privileged strategic partnership and fostering friendly ties between Russia and India.

"It is a testament to Russia's deep appreciation for your sincere efforts in strengthening the friendship and mutual understanding between our nations," said Putin while conferring the award. "You have consistently advocated for broader contacts with our country. Even as Chief Minister of Gujarat, you initiated the twinning of your state with Russian regions."

President Putin also highlighted Prime Minister Modi's pivotal role in elevating India-Russia relations to the level of a strategic partnership, emphasizing that both nations are working together for global and regional security. "You have been leading the Indian government for 10 years, and you have genuinely strived to elevate Russian-Indian relations to the level of a special and privileged strategic partnership," Putin said.-Agencies