Usi library News Information Service Tribune, Hindu, Statesman 12. 12. 2014 Russia to remain top defence partner: pm

USI Library

News Information Service

Tribune, Hindu, Statesman 12.12.2014

Russia to remain top defence partner: PM

Modi-Putin Summit: 20 pacts inked | Moscow to build 12 N-reactors, advanced copters in India

PM Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi. Mukesh Aggarwal

'Druzhba-Dosti' vision

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  Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled the ‘Druzhba-Dosti' vision to strengthen the bilateral partnership over the next decade
  
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  Russia's Rosatom will build 12 nuclear reactors in India. Indian officials said a total of six reactors will be built at Kudankulam. A further six will follow at sites to be determined
  
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  On defence, the two sides will swiftly move ahead to develop a joint 5th-generation fighter and a multi-role transport aircraft, in addition to the chopper deal
  

Eyeing $30 bn trade

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  Both sides agreed to enhance the trade from current $10 billion to $30 billion by 2025
  
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  Russian oil major Rosneft has signed a 10-year crude supply deal with Essar Oil.
  

KV Prasad

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 11

India and Russia today reaffirmed to carry forward the strategic partnership between the two countries and decided to expand cooperation in sectors such as energy, defence, health and mining.

Prominent among the 20 agreements, including seven inter-governmental pacts, was the one through which Russia promised to build 12 nuclear reactors and contribute in the ‘Make in India’ programme by manufacturing advanced helicopters.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled the “Druzhba-Dosti” vision to strengthen the bilateral partnership over the next decade at the end of the 15th annual Summit that discussed broad spectrum of the relationship. `Druzhba' in Russian language means friendship just as ' Dosti' in Hindi.

Both leaders, who met for the third time since Modi assumed office in May this year, pledged to take the bilateral ties to a higher trajectory that also translated into separate strategic vision document on nuclear cooperation.

Modi said Moscow would remain India’s top defence partner. Praising President Putin as a leader of great nation with which India has “friendship of unmatched mutual confidence, trust and goodwill”, he said Moscow remains a “pillar of strength”.

 

On cooperation in nuclear energy, Modi said both sides envisaged an "ambitious vision" of 10 more reactors of the highest standards of safety in the world. It includes manufacturing equipment and components in India that fits in the ‘Make in India’ policy.

 

 

Modi noted that while the first unit of Kudankulam nuclear power plant added 20% to the existing capacity, India and Russia are on course to install next three units of 1000 MW each.

Modi discussed with Putin a broad range of new projects.

 

Modi announced that Russia has offered to fully manufacture in India its most advanced helicopters that could be used both for military and civilian purposes. Sources said Russia is offering the Kamov. 

India also suggested that Russia must shift some manufacturing facilities to India for spares and defence components to which President Putin responded ``very positively'. 

 

Putin said Russia and India have been long cooperating in the defence sector and the two countries have reached a level of joint production of military hardware. He said Moscow is not averse to producing military hardware in India, pointing to the Brahmos missile programme and ongoing projects of advance fighter jet and multi-role transport aircraft.

 

On the trade front, both sides outlined a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing it from current $10 billion to $30 billion by 2025 by when the level of mutual investments will be over $15 billion each way.

 

Among the 20 pacts signed include one providing for cooperation, covering joint exploration and production of hydrocarbons, long term LNG supplies and joint study of a hydrocarbon pipeline system connecting Russia with India.

 

Oil India Limited signed a MoU Russia's Zarubezhneft for cooperation in joint search and evaluation of new hydrocarbons exploration, production, and transportation projects.

 

India's ESSAR and Russia's ROSNEFT also inked a pact for long-term supply of crude oil. The pact envisages 10-year supply and purchase by India of crude oil.

 

A MoU was signed between TATA Power and Russian Direct Investment Fund for cooperation in exploring investment opportunities in the energy sector across the Russian Federation.

 

A separate pact was inked envisaging acquisition of stakes by a consortium of Indian companies in a $2 billion project of ACRON, a Russian fertiliser company.