PM to visit Russia for annual summit on Dec 16

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will pay an official visit to Moscow to attend the annual Indo-Russian summit on December 16--the 12th since the two countries established Strategic Partnership in 2000.

The official announcement of Singh's visit from December 15 to 17 was simultaneously made today by the Kremlin and the External Affairs Ministry in Moscow and New Delhi respectively.

Singh will be in the Russian Capital at the invitation of President Dmitry Medvedev.

On December 16, Singh and Medvedev will hold one-to-one and delegation-level talks in the Kremlin followed by signing of several bilateral pacts including enhancing cooperation in the field of hydrocarbons.

Hectic negotiations are also underway for finalising a commercial contract for construction of the third and fourth unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu. It is expected to be signed during Singh's visit.

Russia is insisting that the civil nuclear liability rules which were framed by India recently should not be made applicable to the planned new reactors in the event of any mishaps.

It has also stressed that the rules will not be applicable for the first two reactors since an agreement for construction of these two units were signed over a decade ago.

The commissioning of the first two units has been stalled due to protests from locals and environmentalists and also delay in delivery of some equipment from Russia.

Russian Ambassador Alexander Kadakin yesterday said upto nine pacts in the areas of trade, military and energy are expected to be signed during Singh's visit.

Indian and Russian officials said the agenda finalised for the Summit reflected the special and privileged nature of our strategic partnership between the two countries.