Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh left for Moscow a short while ago on the first leg of his five-day official visit of Russia and China. In his departure statement, Dr. Singh said his visit to Russia and China would create new strategic opportunities for the country's growth, prosperity and development in a stable and external environment.

Dr. Manmohan Singh said the annual Summit with Russia is an important feature of special and privileged strategic partnership between both the countries.

He said the scope for India's relation with Russia is unique, encompassing, strong and growing cooperation in areas including defence, nuclear energy, science and technology, hydro-carbon, trade, investment and people to people exchanges. He said India and Russia have also had a convergence of view on global and regional issues and India value Russia's perspective on international developments of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister said that his visit to Beijing would afford him the opportunity to continue the discussions with the new leadership of China.

He said both the countries have reached important consensus on maintaining peace and tranquility on the border and made preliminary progress towards settlement of the India-China boundary question.

He said peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations between India and China have provided conditions for both the countries and the wider region to grow with stability.

He said during his visit, he would discuss with his Chinese interlocutors ways and means to consolidate common strategic interests of both the countries.