Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh accompanied by a high level delegation will leave for Moscow today to participate in the 12th Indo-Russian Annual Summit 2011 tomorrow.

In his statement prior to his departure to Russia, the Prime Minister has said that this year’s annual summit takes place against the backdrop of a complex international environment.

The Prime Minister said he looks forwards to an in-depth exchange of views with the Russian leadership on the crisis facing the global economy and the political developments in the extended neighbourhood and the impact of all this on peace and stability in the world.

The Prime Minister will discuss with President Dmitry Medvedev how to further enhance consultations in international forums like the United Nations Security Council, G20, BRICS as well as the East Asian Summit which Russia has recently joined.

The Prime Minister has stated that he looks forward to meeting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who has played a key role in the development of our strategic partnership.

The Prime Minister says there is enormous mutual goodwill in the two countries for each other. He said the visit will be utilised to further expand bilateral cooperation and further consolidate coordination on regional and global issues.