India seeks partnership with Russia in developing the Northern Sea Route (NSR), Cabinet Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said at a meeting with Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic Alexei Chekunkov in Vladivostok.

"India is interested in partnering with Russia in the development of the Northern Sea Route, recognizinge the potential it holds for enhanced connectivity and trade," Alexei Chekunkov said, according to the ministry's press service.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed a wide range of maritime connectivity issues between India and Russia to enhance maritime cooperation, including the possibility of utilizing new transport corridors such as the Northern Sea Route as well as the Eastern Sea Corridor between Vladivostok and Chennai.

India and Russia have agreed to train Indian sailors in polar and Arctic waters at Russia's Nevelskoi Maritime State University, which has a set of shipboard simulators in Vladivostok.