India, Russia agree to cooperate in fields of N-energy, trade

Heralding a new chapter in their "time-tested" partnership, India and Russia today agreed to enhance the bilateral ties in spheres like trade, peaceful use of nuclear energy and military-technical cooperation and vowed to tackle the menace of terrorism jointly.

President Pratibha Patil, who is on a four-day state visit here, held wide-ranging talks with her Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and both agreed to intensify the strategic partnership between the two countries.

"Today we will add a new page" in the history of relationship between the two countries, Medvedev said welcoming Patil in the Green Room of the Kremlin palace.

Expressing satisfaction at the all-weather strategic partnership, he said at the start of the delegation-level talks with Patil: "Your visit demonstrates special strategic relations of partnership between Russia and India, which are not prone to conjuncture and change of political seasons."

Despite global slowdown, the bilateral trade volume has increased, he said, adding that priorities in the cooperation between the two countries would include expansion of ties in the field of energy, high technology and knowledge-based industry, metallurgy, especially in the continuation of Kudankulam project and participation of ONGC in Sakhalin I.

Terming as "time-tested" the relationship between India and Russia, Patil said her talks with the Russian leadership were highly fruitful and held in a frank and friendly atmosphere.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing efforts to achieve the bilateral trade target of $10 billion by next year, Patil said, adding that they agreed to give a push to the existing levels of cooperation, given the potential for economic cooperation.

The bilateral trade in 2007-08 was USD 3.41 billion, highly favourable to Russia.

Both sides noted that there were ample opportunities for further expansion of relations, especially in the fields of space, energy, including hydrocarbons, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy and military-technical cooperation, Patil said.

Energy sector is an important area in Indo-Russian bilateral relations. ONGC-Videsh Limited has acquired 20 per cent stake in the Sakhalin-I oil and gas project in the Russian Federation and has invested about 2.8 billion dollars in the project, one of the largest investments by India abroad.

Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, who briefed reporters on the Patil-Medvedev meeting, said that India and Russia hoped to wrap up the deal on the construction of four more reactors at Kudankulam power plant.

Currently financial, technical and other aspects were being worked out by the Department of Atomic Energy and its Russian counterpart Rosatom after which a commercial deal would be signed.

Replying to a question, Rao said there were many ongoing defence projects and India was very appreciative of Russia's cooperation in the field of defence.

"It is a very steady and ongoing relationship with Russia" in the field of defence, Rao said.

Asked whether the Gorshkov deal has failed, she said both sides would like to reach a mutual agreement and talks were going on. A delegation from India would be visiting Russia to carry forward the talks.

On the issue of terrorism, Rao said both leaders felt the necessity to strengthen cooperation in combating the menace. She said the situation in Afghanistan also came up for discussion and India highlighted the developmental partnership it had with the war-torn nation.

India also expressed its concern over the terrorist elements based in Pakistan and the need for Islamabad to act decisively against them, she said.

Describing the bilateral parleys as "complete meeting of minds", Rao said the two leaders attached great importance to laying more focus in the field of investments, information technology, region-to-region ties, education and exchange of visits by Parliamentarians.

Both leaders also talked about cooperation in the field of outer space and manned space launch, she said.

Later speaking at a reception in the honour of Patil, the Russian president said "for India, Russia is not only a proven friend but a reliable partner as well".

Terming India's relationship with Russia as "unique," Patil said that Moscow is "our permanent friend in the changing world".