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Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to embark on visit to Russia

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to embark on visit to Russia.

AP Photo /Manish Swarup

AP Photo /Manish Swarup

NEW DELHI, October 20 (Itar-Tass) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will start his official visit to Russia on Sunday to take part in the 14th annual Russian-Indian summit.

Singh will have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 21.

The sides are expected to sign around six documents, including agreements in science, technologies and energy efficiency that envision exchange of technologies, information and experts, says Ajay Bisaria, head of the Indian Foreign Ministry’s Eurasia division.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Manmohan Singh said all documents to be signed helped strengthen relations of privileged strategic partnership in different spheres and emphasized importance of the two countries’ “common approaches to international problems” that together with mutual friendship and confidence helped implement joint cooperation projects in all areas.

At the talks with Putin the Indian prime minister hoped to focus on bilateral cooperation and international problems, including the situation in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO-led forces, Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Sujatha Singh said.

Trade and economic cooperation will be another important issue high on the agenda. The Russian-Indian trade grew from $8.85 billion in 2011 to $11.04 billion in 2012 and the two countries hoped to take it to $20 billion by 2015.

Manmohan Singh noted that India and Russia had regularly been working to explore new areas of cooperation and to improve exchange of information on each other’s business potential. “We seek to boost mutual investments in such areas as chemical industry, pharmaceutics, car-making, telecommunications, infrastructure, fertilizer production and energy,” he said.

Russia and India hold such summits in turns every year since 2000. “Our relations are unprecedented as an example of mutual understanding, confidence, reliability and warmth,” Singh said, adding that he valued close and friendly relations with Vladimir Putin and was looking forward to his visit to “dynamic Moscow.”

After his visit to Russia the Indian prime minister will go to China on October 22-24 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, the Indian foreign ministry said.

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