By IRNA,
New Delhi : India and Russia on Monday discussed the prospect of advancing cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, which includes construction of reactors by Moscow in India.
The issue was discussed during talks between External Affairs Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New Delhi on Monday.
The talks comes ahead of the visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in December when an agreement on nuclear cooperation will be signed.
Talking to the media, Mukherjee said that both India and Russia have discussed prospects for future bilateral cooperation in this field.
Mukherjee expressed gratitude to Russia for its support for India at the IAEA and NSG.
Hailing India’s track record and responsible behavior on the non-proliferation front, Lavrov welcomed the NSG waiver for the country.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction on the overall development of strategic partnership and agreed on the need to intensify joint cooperative efforts in areas such as trade and investment, science and technology, energy and defense.
Later, briefing the media the Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said, India and Russia also discussed the ongoing global financial crisis.
Lavrov met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and mooted the idea of a joint India-Russia initiative to fight the crisis.