MOSCOW, April 12. /TASS/. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is honored to receive Russia’s highest state award, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, as he himself wrote on Twitter on Friday.

"Honored to receive this prestigious award. I thank President Putin and the people of Russia," he said, adding that: "foundations of India-Russia friendship are deep and the future of our partnership is bright. Extensive cooperation between our nations has led to extraordinary outcomes for our citizens."

According to the Indian prime minister, "President Putin remains a source of great strength for the India-Russia friendship. Under his visionary leadership, bilateral and multilateral cooperation between our nations has scaled new heights."

Putin earlier signed an executive order, awarding Modi the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, the Kremlin’s website said.