The Prime Minister of the Republic of India H.E. Dr Manmohan Singh paid an official visit to the Russian Federation from 15-17 December 2011 at the invitation of the President of the Russian Federation H.E. Dmitry Medvedev. H.E. Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, held talks with H.E. Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation, and H.E. Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

During the talks, the sides appreciated the advancement and further enhancement of the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia. The sides noted that intense dialogue and regular high-level meetings that had taken place since the annual Summit in December 2010 helped to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing global situation and to promote close coordination of joint efforts in the international arena and also contributed to the continued implementation of large-scale trade, economic, investment, defence, scientific and technical projects, humanitarian and cultural exchanges, and people-to-people level contacts in the spirit of the traditional friendship between the two nations.

The sides noted with satisfaction that the entry into force of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Russian Federation on Mutual Simplification of Travel Documents for Certain Categories of Nationals of the two countries would promote broader business and scientific cooperation, boost professional, student and other exchanges between India and Russia.

The sides decided to commemorate the 65th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Russia in 2012 in both the countries in a fitting manner.

Enhancing bilateral trade, investments and innovative cooperation

The sides noted the fruitful work carried out by the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation which held its XVII session in Moscow on November 18, 2011. Decisions adopted by the Intergovernmental Commission and aimed at ensuring dynamic growth of bilateral economic ties focused on innovative and high-technology components, as well as investment projects that would contribute to the modernization and growth of both the economies. India welcomed Russia’s impending entry into the WTO. The sides decided to jointly study the possibility of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement between India and the Belarus-Kazakhstan-Russia Custom Union. The sides decided to actively exchange business missions in various fields of cooperation and to work out details on industrial modernization opportunities in India. They decided to explore the setting up of a joint investment fund and to promote greater cooperation between the regions of the two countries. The sides expressed satisfaction that several joint projects in the Hydrocarbon, Steel, Mining, Automobile, Fertilizer and Pharmaceutical sectors are currently being pursued.

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