India seeks deeper strategic ties with Russia: PM

Declaring that India attaches high priority to its strategic ties with Russia, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said New Delhi was committed to further deepening its partnership with Moscow in energy security, defence and other key fields.

'I will convey to him (Russian President Vladimir Putin) the high priority that India attaches to its partnership with Russia and the benefits that this partnership has brought to our two peoples,' Dr Singh said in a statement before leaving for Moscow on a two-day visit by a special Air India plane.

He said the Indo-Russian strategic partnership is an enduring bond of friendship, which has strong historical roots.

India is committed to further deepening its partnership with Russia in the field of trade and investment, defence, energy security, science and technology and other areas of mutual interest, he said.

Stating that India's relations with Russia have traditionally been a factor of peace and stability in the region and beyond, Dr Singh said he was convinced that the strong fundamentals of mutual trust and shared world view on regional and global issues will continue to bring the two countries closer together in a dynamic international environment.

'Our multi-faceted bilateral operations with Russia are based on long-term interests,' he said.

During his two-day official visit, the two sides are expected to sign a series of agreements, including a pact to jointly produce and manufacture a medium range military transport aircraft.

Dr Singh, who once described Russia as India's 'tried and time-tested' friend, will have talks with Putin at the Kremlin on Monday in continuation of the annual India-Russia summit meetings, which started seven years ago.

Ahead of Dr Singh's second visit to Moscow in two years, the Cabinet Committee on Security met in New Delhi on Thursday to approve a number of significant agreements to be concluded in diverse fields at the eighth summit.

The prime minister is expected to return home in the early hours of Tuesday.

In his departure statement, the prime minister said the annual Indo-Russian summit since Putin's first visit to India in 2000 has led to the progressive consolidation of bilateral relations and maintained the momentum of very close high-level contacts.

Dr Singh said he was confident that his visit will lead to reaffirmation of the joint endeavour towards creating greater economic prosperity and a secure and stable peaceful world order.

Ways to improve bilateral trade, expand energy cooperation and finetune defence ties are expected to be outlined in the new pacts. Indo-Russian trade is below expectation and the volume is about 112 billion rupees ($2.52 billion) with the balance of trade being in favour of Russia.