India, Russia to ink five accords as Manmohan, Putin hold talks

The agreements lined up for signing during the annual summit on Monday include one on the transfer of convicted and sentenced people and another on science and technology

India and Russia would ink five agreeements and seek strategic confluence on bilateral and global issues as visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Vladimir Putin hold annual summit level talks here Monday.

The prime minister, who arrived here Sunday, was conferred a doctoral award by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in the morning.

In the afternoon, Manmohan Singh and President Putin hold restricted talks in the Green Drawing Room of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

Later, the two sides hold delegation level talks aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties, after which the agreements will be signed.

The five agreements lined up for signing during the annual summit Monday include one on the transfer of convicted and sentenced people and another on science and technology.

The deal on the third and fourth reactors for Kudankulam nuclear power projecy are not to be inked on Monday though the commercial agreement is being firmed up by both sides.

Manmohan Singh and Putin are set to go over the main pillars of the bilateral strategic partnership, including defence, energy, space, science and technology and economy.

Before leaving on the visit, the prime minister described the annual summit he would hold with President Putin as an "important feature of our special and privileged strategic partnership".

On arrival at Russia's Vnukovo International airport Sunday, the prime minister said that India and Russia share a privileged, special partnership and this is the 14th Summit that is taking place.

"We are going to review our partnership and its progress in diverse fields such as atomic energy, defence cooperation, space cooperation, science and technology, trade and investment and also review the international and regional development and how they impact on our two countries, how we can work together to keep the world safe for peace and prosperity."

(Ranjana Narayan can be contacted at ranjana.n@ians.in)