PM leaves on three-day visit to Russia; to meet Zardari

New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Monday left on a three-day visit to Russia, his first
tour abroad in his new term, saying India was ready to play
its role in global efforts to overcome the economic slowdown.

The Prime Minister will meet world leaders, including
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, during his visit to the
Russian city Yekaterinburg, where he will attend the Brazil-
Russia-India-China (BRIC) and Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO) Summits.

"India is among the fastest growing BRIC economies, and
we are ready to play our part in coordinating international
efforts to overcome the ongoing financial and economic
slowdown," Singh said in a statement.

Singh said the BRIC grouping has the potential to lead
global economic growth.

"In fact, global economic recovery is closely linked to
the success of BRIC economies".

The Prime Minister's meeting with Zardari marks the first
contact at top level between India and Pakistan since the
26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

Referring to the SCO Summit which he would attend for the
first time, Singh said "my decision to attend the Summit is a
reflection of the high regard we have for Russia's Presidency
of the SCO."

Singh said the decision to attend the SCO Summit also
reflected India's desire to "intensify our engagement with
countries of our extended neighbourhood in Central Asia.

Observing that there were several issues which concerned
both India and the SCO, he said these included fight against
terrorism and extremism and cooperation in areas of energy
security, infrastructure development, agriculture,
transportation, science and technology and education.

"India and the SCO stand to gain considerably from each
other through such cooperation," he said.

Singh said during his visit, which was at the invitation
of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, he would look forward to
meet and exchange views with world leaders present in
Yekaterinburg.

On the BRIC Summit, he said the four countries together
account for 40 per cent of the world population and 40 per
cent of the global GDP.

"The BRIC countries have a role to play in promoting the
principle of multilateralism in international affairs, and in
the reform of the institutions of global governance, including
the United Nations, to reflect contemporary realities," he
said.

The Prime Minister said that from these points of view,
the convening of the first standalone Summit of BRIC was a
"significant development". Its main agenda is expected to
include the global financial crisis, terrorism and food
security.

A significant aspect of the visit in Indo-Pak context
would be a meeting between Singh and Zardari on the sidelines
of the two Summits which may break the ice in bilateral ties.

Singh and Zardari will have a brief interaction during
which they are expected to talk about bilateral ties and the
way forward.

This will be the first highest-level contact between the
two countries since the Mumbai attacks last year as India has
suspended dialogue till Pakistan takes "concrete" action
against those behind the strikes and dismantles the terror
infrastructure.

The meeting between Singh and Zardari, though informal
with no structured agenda, may lead to resumption of bilateral
dialogue at some level if the two leaders agree to it.

Earlier, Singh had said "there is no other alternative
but to pursue the path of dialogue... It is in our vital
interest to try again to make peace with Pakistan but it takes
two hands to clap."

Singh's attendance at the SCO meet will mark the maiden
participation by an Indian Prime Minister in the Summit of the
six-nation grouping in which India is an observer.

The SCO comprises Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. India, Pakistan, Iran and
Mongolia are Observers.

The BRIC Summit is expected to see the four nations
discuss issues relating to immediate reform of international
financial institutions. PTI AKK