When India hosts Russian president Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday, it completes a full circle of hosting all the five permanent members (P5) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) this year.
When India hosts Russian president Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday, it completes a full circle of hosting all the five permanent members (P5) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) this year.
Medvedev, who arrives in New Delhi for two days on early Tuesday morning, will spend a day in New Delhi for delegation level talks.
He has reserved the other for a quick visit to Agra and Mumbai before flying back. In Mumbai, Medvedev will visit IIT, Powai, and the film city.
This will be third standalone Manmohan-Medvedev meeting and it assumes significance given the fact it marks a decade of completion of strategic partnership between India and Russia announced in 2000.
India and Russia have a history of extensive defence relationship including research and development of advanced defence systems and the two countries this time may get into a partnership which could be over $300 million.
India and Russia are expected to sign over 15 agreements in defence, including the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), civil nuclear cooperation, space and economy even as the two countries explore ways to expand cooperation in the field of hydrocarbons.
“A number of agreements would be signed. These agreements would be in areas of space, economic and defence sectors,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said.
The FGFA deal is expected to be worth $295 million in the first phase. “FGFA is a long term project of advanced manufacturing and it will have a number of milestones in it and we don’t know whether one or two of them will be achieved during the meeting here,” Prakash said.
Medvedev’s talks with prime minister Manmohan Singh will also focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan. “The two countries have a similar perspective on the issue of terrorism. India and Russia are also the members of the G-20 and work closely for reforms in international financial system,” Prakash said.
Russia is also exploring ways to open up its strategic gas and oil reserves for India besides seeking stake in ONGC Videsh.
Similarly, both are working on a road map and specific projects on hydrocarbon since Russia is looking for an assured buyer and India is looking for an assured supplier.
Medvedev will meet president Pratibha Patil and external affairs minister SM Krishna on Tuesday. Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, vice president Hamid Ansari and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will also meet him.
Medvedev will be accompanied by Russian deputy prime minister Sergei Ivanov, co-chair of the Indo-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, energy minister S Shiatko, mayor of St Petersburg, members of the Duma and a large business delegation.
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