`Strong Indo-Russian ties solid base for mutual cooperation`

Moscow, Jan 26 (PTI) Russia Monday said its multi-faceted
ties with India have provided a solid foundation for
developing "true mutually beneficial" cooperation, including
on combating international terrorism.

In his message to Indian President Pratibha Patil and
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Republic Day, Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev said "these strong ties are a solid
basis for further improvement of dialogue in all directions".

"The dialogue will be for benefiting our peoples, and
strengthening friendship and confidence in the world,"
Medvedev wrote to President Patil.

"The concurrence of the long-term interests and identical
approaches of our two nations on key issues of contemporary
politics, common interest in developing a true mutually
beneficial and multifaceted cooperation has allowed us to
provide the character of a strategic partnership to
Indo-Russian interaction," he said.

In a separate message to Singh, Medvedev noted that the
two nations have a long history of friendship and mutually
beneficial cooperation, the Kremlin press office said.

Medvedev said through joint efforts in recent years the
two nations have succeeded in elevating bilateral relations to
a new level. He said high dynamism has been imparted to
political contacts, and bilateral cooperation has been
expanded in the fields of trade, economy, defence and culture.

"Our strategic partnership on the international arena,
first of all in combating international terrorism, has
acquired a special quality," Medvedev wrote to the PM.

He expressed confidence that the 'Year of India' to be
observed in Russia in 2009 will open new vistas in further
cementing Indo-Russian ties for the benefit of the two nations
and international cooperation and security. PTI