India and Russia ink 30 pacts

New Delhi, Dec 21 (PTI) Imparting a new impetus to
their "special and privileged" ties, India and Russia today
inked 30 pacts in several key areas such as civil nuclear
cooperation and defence, including development of Fifth
Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) to augment country's
military capabilities.
During their nearly two-hour long annual summit
meeting which encompassed a whole range of crucial bilateral,
regional and global matters, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also took stock of the
situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan which impacts on the
security of both the countries.
Besides deciding to enhance cooperation in crucial
spheres of military, energy sector, science and technology,
space research and pharmaceuticals, the two sides agreed to
step up efforts to achieve the target of bilateral trade of
USD 20 billion by 2015.
Apart from 11 pacts, which were signed after the
talks, 19 agreements, including those between private
companies of both the countries were inked on the margins of
the summit.
The key pacts include Preliminary Design Contract for
FGFA envisaging joint design and development by Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited and Russia's Sukhoi Design Bureau and
Rosoboronexport, Framework Agreement on Cooperation in
hydrocarbon sector and MoU for joint research and development
in reactor technology and related fields for peaceful uses of
atomic energy.
Other agreements pertained to simplification of visa
procedure for certain categories, including for businessmen,
enhancement of cooperation in oil and gas sector, MoU for
cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, MoU on combating
irregular migration and agreement on cooperation in the field
of emergency management.
"Our talks have been comprehensive and result-
oriented. We have signed several important agreements covering
a large number of sectors. This reflects our mutual desire to
bring our cooperation in other areas at par with our
traditionally strong cooperation in the defence and nuclear
fields," Singh said at a joint press interaction with
Medvedev.
The two leaders also discussed construction of
additional Russian designed nuclear reactors at Kudankulam,
where two units are ready to be commissioned. While first unit
will be commissioned by end of this month or early next month,
the second unit will be commissioned by next year-end.
Recalling their Moscow declaration on International
Terrorism of 2001, the two leaders agreed that there is no
justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism.
"The sides agreed that all terrorist networks must be
defeated. They called upon Pakistan to expeditiously bring all
the perpetrators, authors and accomplices of the November 2008
Mumbai attacks to justice," the joint statement, issued after
the talks,said. (MORE) PTI