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Russian PM Zubkov to meet Pranab Mukherjee
New Delhi, February 12, 2008
| Russian Prime Minister Victor A Zubkov will
meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee here on
Tuesday to explore ways for further strengthening bilateral
ties between the two countries.
Zubkov arrived here late last night on a three-day visit that
is expected to focus on enhancing existing bilateral ties,
especially economic.
Later, Zubkov will meet Finance Minster P. Chidambaram and
Leader of Opposition L K Advani. |
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A delegation talks will be held between the visiting Prime
Minister and his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh this
afternoon.
India and Russia are expected to sign five agreements,
including one each relating to cooperation in the telecom and
aviation sectors.
When Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Moscow in
November 2007, he pointed out to the extremely small volume of
bilateral trade between the two countries.
"Trade and investment relations between India and Russia have
lagged far behind our excellent political understanding and
our joint commitment to strategic partnership," Dr. Singh had
said then.
Presently, bilateral trade is pegged at four billion dollars,
which is far less than the Russia-China and Russia-European
Union bilateral trade volumes, which are 35 billion dollars
and 200 billion Euros respectively.
The two sides will seek to enhance the bilateral trade volume
to 10 billion US dollars by 2010.
The issue of civil nuclear cooperation may also figure in the
talks.
India was expected to sign a comprehensive nuclear agreement
with Russia during Prime Minister Singh`s visit, but the pact
did not materialize. The pact was expected to have a separate
component for the construction of four additional nuclear
power generation units in Kundankulam, Tamil Nadu.
It was not signed due to a lack of India-specific safeguards
agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
and a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
India and Russia are working towards a possible collaboration
on uranium mining in Jharkhand.
The two sides are also likely to work together on a titanium
project in Gopalpur, Orissa.
The Russian Prime Minister is also scheduled to address at the
second India-Russia Forum on Trade and Investment along with
Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.
He will call on President Pratibha Patil and Vice President
Hamid Ansari in the evening.
On Tuesday, he will attend the opening ceremony of the "Year
of Russia" at Purana Qila in Delhi.
Before leaving for Moscow on Wednesday from Delhi, Zubkov will
pay a visit to Agra.
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