Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh reached Moscow this evening on first leg of his two nation five day official visit of Russia and China. He was received at Vnukovo airport by the deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Mikhail Bogadanov and accorded a warm welcome.
AIR correspondent covering Prime Minister's visit reports that Dr. Singh shall be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin for official talks tomorrow. A Joint Statement will be issued at the conclusion of the talks, touching on bilateral as well as global issues.
New Delhi has said that all main pillars of strategic partnership between both the countries including defence, nuclear, space energy, economic ties, science and technology, strategic issue are set high on agenda for India Russia summit discussions.
India has reiterated that Russia continues to remain a trusted partner in defence and talks are likely to be held on several on-going issues and projects including the fifth generation fighter aircraft that is being co-developed and is to be co-produced by Russia and India.
AIR correspondent reports that about five agreements and Memorandum of Understanding MoUs will be signed after summit talks. Agreements will be signed on Programmes of Cooperation in the field of Biotechnology, Science, Technology and Innovation and treaty on transfer of sentenced persons.
While, MoUs will also be singed on enhanced cooperation in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency and closer technical cooperation in the field of standardisation between Bureau of Indian Standards BIS and Federal Agency on Technical Regulation and Metrology of Russia.
Quoting highly placed diplomatic sources AIR correspondent reports that both India and Russia are very close to clinching a commercial deal on the third and fourth reactors for the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu and only the legal vetting of the deal is left to be done. However, commercial agreement on the third and fourth nuclear reactors would not be inked during the current visit.
Top diplomatic sources have said India and Russia are in the process of agreeing for cooperation in the field of Hydrocarbons including exploration as both the countries have entered inter- governmental agreement in this regard two years back.
They said a follow-up action is needed to make concrete programmes in this regard. They said both the countries have taken several measure to enhance their trade and commerce.
Dr Manmohan Singh will be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations MGIMO.
