New Delhi, Jan 22
India and Russia will enhance their civil nuclear cooperation, sign
crucial pacts in strategic areas of defence and space and impart a
new vitality to their lukewarm trade ties during Russian President
Valdimir Putin's two-day visit to India that begins Thursday.
Putin, who has put Russia back into the reckoning as a major
economic player riding on the crest of a booming oil economy, will
be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations - an honor that
will signal an affirmation of close and time-tested ties between the
two countries.
A clutch of agreements on setting up a joint venture in the energy
sector, the purchase of a new generation MiG aircraft, the joint
production of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) and close
cooperation in civilian space sector, including joint launch of
satellites, and establishing a centre for technology transfer are
expected to be signed during Putin's visit.
Eight-10 agreements are expected to be signed, official sources
said.
The two sides will also discuss ways and means to more than triple
bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2010. A relaxation of the visa
regime will be discussed to facilitate the easier movement of
businessmen between the two sides.
Manmohan Singh and Putin, who will be accompanied by a large
business delegation, will hold talks Thursday to reinvigorate
multi-faceted ties in areas ranging from business, defence and
energy to space and civil nuclear cooperation.
They will also discuss Iran's nuclear impasse, North Korean nuclear
tests and the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan as well as its
impact on the region's security, official sources said.
From India's point of view, enhancing civil nuclear cooperation with
Russia, which is involved with building nuclear reactors in
Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, will top the agenda.
Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko has
already arrived in Mumbai. He will go to Kudankulam.
A joint political declaration and a joint statement on continuation
of civilian nuclear cooperation, under which Russia will build four
more additional nuclear power units at the Kudankulam nuclear power
plant, after the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifts its curbs, are
expected at the end of summit between Manmohan Singh and Putin.
Accelerating bilateral cooperation in hydrocarbon sector will get
high priority. India has invested $2 billion in Sakhalin-I oil block
in Russia where ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of the national oil
major, holds a 20 percent stake. India received the first shipment
of oil from the Sakhalin-I in December. The two countries are also
planning to develop oil reserves in the Bay of Bengal.
In space sector, the two countries are expected to sign an agreement
on GLONASS - a global satellite-based navigation system touted as an
alternative to the GPS system. They will discuss the nitty-gritty of
jointly launching satellites.
Crucial military deals are likely to be signed. Russian Deputy Prime
Minister-cum-Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov is in Mumbai talking to
representatives of the defence industry. He arrives here Wednesday
to meet his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony.
The two sides will step up discussions on the purchase of a
fifth generation fighter aircraft that could
be a competitor to the F-35 being developed jointly by the US,
Britain and other countries.
(c) Boloji.com :
1999–2008 : All
Rights Reserved Boloji.com is owned and managed by Boloji Media Inc Privacy Policy |
Disclaimer
No part of this Internet site may
be reproduced without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
