The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will be leaving for Moscow on Sunday on first leg of his two-nation five day official visit of Russia and China.
Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh yesterday said that New Delhi was hopeful of the conclusion of contracts related to the third and fourth nuclear units at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant during Dr. Singh's visit to Moscow.
"The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant exemplifies our close cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. The Unit 1 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant has been completed and attained criticality in July this year. Unit 2 at Kudankulam should be ready in the first half of 2014. On Units 3 and 4, our companies are finalizing documents," she said.
Dr. Singh would be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday for robust discussions to boost the strategic relationship between the two countries. Dr. Singh will be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) the same day.
"As is customary, a Joint Statement will be issued at the conclusion of the talks, touching on bilateral as well as global issues. We expect a few agreements to be signed in diverse areas like science and technology, energy efficiency and standards. Also, on the margins of the Summit, we will have a meeting of the newly re-constituted CEO's Council," said Sujata Singh.
Following the visit to Russia, the Prime Minister will pay an official visit to Beijing from October 22 to 24.
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Dr. Singh would hold talks with his counterpart Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Manmohan Singh would also visit Beijing on October 23.
Dr. Singh would hold talks with his counterpart Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
"Maintenance of peace and tranquility and stability on our border is an important factor in our (India and China) bilateral ties and it is expected that this would be an important aspect of the discussions as it is also the fundamental basis on which the rest of our bilateral relationship can proceed and grow," Sujatha Singh said.
"At the culmination of the visit, a Joint Statement will be issued summarizing the major areas in our bilateral ties. It is also expected that some agreements would be signed on issues which we are currently working on and hope to conclude during the visit," she added.
This will be the Prime Minister's second bilateral visit to Beijing. Dr. Singh had previously visited China in January 2008.