President APJ Abdul Kalam's four-day visit to Russia from Sunday would be instrumental in boosting bilateral strategic partnership in defence and space, Indian ambassador Kanwal Sibal said in Moscow on Friday.
"The President in his earlier capacities has been closely linked with the Russian defence scientists. He is well aware of Russia's scientific and technological potential, and his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin would help in boosting bilateral strategic partnership in defence and space," Sibal said, briefing the Indian media ahead of the President's visit.
During the President's Moscow talks, ideas about new Indo-Russian joint ventures in defence like the highly successful Brahmos cruise missile project, launched under the guidance of Kalam himself when he was the prime minister's defence adviser would be discussed.
"India and Russia are confidently moving away from the buyer-seller relations in defence and through joint research & development, production and marketing projects Russia would remain India's major long-term defence partner," Sibal said.
This would be the first state visit of an Indian President to the country in the last 17 years.
