At talks at the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh examined closely bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Mr Putin noted that trade between the two countries has been increasing over recent years at a rate that will make it possible to reach the set objective of $10 billion by 2010.
The two countries are to establish a joint government-level working group to draft a comprehensive new agreement on economic cooperation.
The talks focused particularly on cooperation in the nuclear energy and military-technical sectors.
Mr Putin and Mr Singh noted that Russia and India share common or similar positions on the main international and regional issues. Both countries take the primacy of international law and the central role of the United Nations as their reference point.
The two countries agreed to continue working closely together in international organisations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, in which India has observer status, in the interests of ensuring global and regional security.
Speaking at a press conference following the talks, Mr Putin noted that the meeting reaffirmed the two countries’ desire to develop long-term cooperation in all key areas.