Despite the global financial crisis, trade and economic relations between Russia and India have continued to grow.
Dmitry Medvedev made this statement during talks with President of India Pratibha Patil in an expanded format. Over the first five months of this year, the most difficult year in the past ten, trade between the two countries has increased by nearly 15 percent. And the goal of raising the volume of bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars will be achieved in fairly short order.
The priorities of Russian-Indian relations include enhancing cooperation in energy, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, knowledge-intensive industries, transportation and banking sectors.
Mr Medvedev also stressed the proximity and overlap of the two countries' approaches to many international issues such as strengthening the role of leading international institutions particularly the United Nations, ensuring security and stability in various parts of the world, including the Middle East and Central Asia, fighting against terrorism and drug-trafficking.
In the evening Dmitry Medvedev and Pratibha Patil attended a gala concert at the Bolshoi Theatre hosted as part of the Year of India in Russia.
Speaking at the concert, Mr Medvedev said that the development of Russian-Indian relations has always been and will remain one of Russia’s foreign policy priorities.
Pratibha Patil is on a state visit to Russia September 2–6, 2009.