Also take stock of the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Giving a new impetus to their “special and privileged” ties, India and Russia today inked 30 pacts in several key areas, such as civil nuclear cooperation and defence, to augment the country’s military capabilities.
During their near-two-hour annual summit meeting, which encompassed a whole range of crucial bilateral, regional and global matters, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also took stock of the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which affected the security of both the countries.
Besides deciding to enhance cooperation in crucial spheres of military, energy sector, science and technology, space research and pharmaceuticals, the two sides agreed to step up efforts to achieve the target of $20-billion bilateral trade by 2015.
Apart from 11 pacts signed after the talks, 19 agreements, including those between private companies of both the countries, were inked on the margins of the summit.
The key pacts include Preliminary Design Contract for FGFA envisaging joint design and development by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau and Rosoboronexport, Framework Agreement on Cooperation in hydrocarbon sector and MoU for joint research and development in reactor technology and related fields for peaceful uses of atomic energy.
More From This Section
Other agreements pertained to simplification of visa process for certain categories, including businessmen, enhancement of cooperation in oil and gas sector, MoU for cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, MoU on combating irregular migration and agreement on cooperation in the field of emergency management.
“Our talks have been comprehensive and result-oriented. We have signed several important agreements, covering a large number of sectors. This reflects our mutual desire to bring our cooperation in other areas on a par with our traditionally strong cooperation in the defence and nuclear fields,” Singh said at his joint press interaction with Medvedev.
The two leaders also discussed the construction of additional Russian-designed nuclear reactors at Kudankulam, where two units are ready to be commissioned. While the first unit will be commissioned by the end of this month or early next month, the second will be commissioned by the end of the next year.
The two countries agreed to promote specific projects to encourage direct business-to-business dialogue between Indian and Russian oil and gas companies, to ensure that the contacts resulted in concrete and mutually-beneficial commercial agreements.
The Russian side also expressed its readiness to assist and promote a discussion and positive decision in the NSG on India’s membership in the 46-nation grouping.
Medvedev, who is on a three-day visit to India, will travel to Agra tomorrow and then to Mumbai, where he will go to the film city and IIT.
During his interaction with the press, the Russian president talked about the popularity of Indian movies and songs in his country.