Prez heads for Russia; to attend Victory Day celebrations

President Pranab Mukherjee today left for Moscow on a five-day visit during which he will attend the 70th anniversary celebrations of Victory Day, which commemorates Russia's triumph in the Second World War.
During the trip, Mukherjee will hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on civil nuclear cooperation, defence ties and partnership in higher education,
Nine MoUs and eight cooperation agreements in higher education are expected to be signed between the two countries.
A 75-member Indian Army contingent from the Grenadiers will take part in the military parade in Moscow during the Victory Day celebrations.
Mukherjee is accompanied by Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha and heads of several top Indian educational institutions, including Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, Directors of IITs Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar yesterday said that the Department of Science and Technology will also sign an agreement with the Russian Science Foundation.

During Putin's state visit to India in December 2014, the two countries had agreed on a vision to strengthen their partnership over the next decade.
Jaishankar described India's relations with Russia as "special and privileged" and said New Delhi was currently undertaking bilateral engagements to translate that vision with Moscow.
Mutual cooperation in defence, civil-nuclear energy, space science and economic trade constitute the core of the bilateral ties.
Mukherjee, who is visiting Russia at the invitation of Putin, will inaugurate the "Namaste Russia" cultural festival and will also be conferred an honorary doctorate by the Russian Diplomatic Academy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, HRD Minister Smriti Irani, Delhi LG Najeeb Jung and the three sevice chiefs met Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of his departure.