By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Indian President Pratibha Patil will meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin here later Friday for talks focusing on bilateral trade and energy.
Patil held talks Thursday with her Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.
India and Russia enjoy close bilateral ties, particularly in the areas of defence, nuclear energy and the space industry. The two countries have completed the design of an unmanned lunar orbiter due to be sent to the moon in 2011-12.
Last year was the Year of Russia in India, and 2009 is the Year of India in Russia.
According to Russian data, since 2005 bilateral trade volume has grown by 30 percent annually. In 2008, the $7 billion mark was reached. Despite negative world tendencies, in the first six months of 2009 trade increased by almost 18 percent year-on-year. Machine building accounts for 49 percent of Russian exports to India.