New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left Sunday on a two-day visit of Russia during which the two countries are expected to sign several agreements including one on jointly producing a transport aircraft.
National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon are accompanying Manmohan Singh.
Officials here say the visit is aimed at reassuring Russia that relations that bind New Delhi and Moscow are “unique and special” and remain relevant even amid the rapidly changing global situation.
Manmohan Singh will talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday on a wide range of bilateral and global issues including civil nuclear cooperation, business ties, UN reforms, and the situation in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The two countries are expected to sign a slew of agreements on resolving the rupee-rouble trade issues, preventing drug trafficking and trans-national crime, and boosting space cooperation.
A bilateral agreement that will enable Russia to build four additional power reactors at the Kudankulam plant in Tamil Nadu may also be signed.