India, Russia agree to cooperate in fields of N-energy, trade

Moscow, Sep 3 (PTI) Heralding a new chapter in their
"time-tested" partnership, India and Russia Thursday agreed to
enhance the bilateral ties in spheres like trade, peaceful use
of nuclear energy and military-technical cooperation and
vowed to tackle the menace of terrorism jointly.

President Pratibha Patil, who is on a four-day state
visit here, held wide-ranging talks with her Russian
counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and both agreed to intensify the
strategic partnership between the two countries.

"Today we will add a new page" in the history of
relationship between the two countries, Medvedev said
welcoming Patil in the Green Room of the Kremlin palace.

Expressing satisfaction at the all-weather strategic
partnership, he said at the start of the delegation-level
talks with Patil, "Your visit demonstrates special strategic
relations of partnership between Russia and India, which are
not prone to conjuncture and change of political seasons."

Despite global slowdown, the bilateral trade volume has
increased, he said, adding that priorities in the cooperation
between the two countries would include expansion of ties in
the field of energy, high technology and knowledge-based
industry, metallurgy, especially in the continuation of
Kudankulam project and participation of ONGC in Sakhalin I.

Terming as "time-tested" the relationship between India
and Russia, Patil said her talks with the Russian leadership
were highly fruitful and held in a frank and friendly
atmosphere. (More) PTI MS
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