Manmohan Singh, Dmitry Medvedev discuss bilateral ties, global situation

Meeting for the second time in four months, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today discussed ways to push the unique bilateral strategic partnership that covers a wide range of issues, including defence, space and trade and economy.

The two leaders, who are in China for the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) Summit tomorrow, took stock of the bilateral relations as also the global situation having impact on their countries.

"India and Russia have unique strategic partnership which has completed a decade. This is an occasion to celebrate," said Singh in his opening remarks at the meeting.

"We gained in strength, durability and depth (due to the partnership)," he said and thanked Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for extending the cooperation to almost every conceivable area.

"We hope to accomplish more in the next decade," the prime minister remarked.

Recalling Medvedev's visit to Delhi in December, Singh termed it as a "landmark" and expressed gratitude to Russia for supporting India's ambitions.