Seeking to cement bilateral strategic ties, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived here on Sunday on a three-day visit to Russia during which the two sides are expected to sign a framework agreement on civil nuclear cooperation and three defence pacts.
During his visit, Mr. Singh will review with President Dmitry Medvedev the status of bilateral cooperation, including in the key areas of defence, civil nuclear energy, space and hydrocarbons at the annual bilateral summit on Monday.
“The annual summit is the principal mechanism for the advancement of our strategic partnership with Russia. This is a partnership based on the solid foundation of long-standing friendship, deep mutual trust and strong convergence of interests,” Mr. Singh said in New Delhi before leaving for Moscow.
He noted that over the years, India-Russia multifaceted cooperation has acquired greater depth and maturity through joint efforts. “We seek to strengthen these ties further.”
The Prime Minister, who is on his sixth visit to Russia since 2004, said he would also meet Prime Minister Vladimir Putin under whose presidency the annual dialogue was set up.
Reflecting the depth of their cooperation in defence, India and Russia will ink three pacts in this field, including one for ending ad-hocism in servicing Russian military equipment. India also hopes to sign an Inter-governmental framework agreement for cooperation in civil nuclear field.
During the summit-level talks, tough anti-terrorism steps, expansion of civil nuclear ties and defence cooperation and measures to give a boost to sluggish bilateral trade ties will be high on the agenda.
