Indian Prime Minister: Russia Play Increasingly Important Role in World Affairs

05.12.2008 14:03

Speaking at a joint press-conference following the talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the meeting was “historical”. According to him, the leaders of both states discussed all spheres of bilateral relations.

"We decided to increase our trade commodity turnover up to $10 billion by 2010”, said the Prime Minister.

"We also discussed cooperation of our companies in production and refinery of hydrocarbons”, said Singh.

The Indian Premier claimed that the problem of terror was in the focus of the talks. We expressed gratitude to Mr. Medvedev for “solidarity and condolences of Russia” in connection with the act of terror in Mumbai.

Besides, Mr. Singh pointed out that Russia and India should consolidate their efforts for establishment of a just world order.

"We are confident that under the leadership of President Medvedev Russia will play an increasingly important role in the world affairs”, said the Indian Prime Minister.

The leaders of Russia and India signed a joint Declaration.

The Declaration states that in the light of the recent conflict in South Ossetia Russia and India support principles of reconciliation in the Caucasus elaborated by the Presidents of Russia and France and expect that the steps taken in this direction will result in lasting peace and cooperation in the Caucasus.

The document also points out that the parties regard the military-technical cooperation as a key aspect of the relationship between Russia and India and emphasize that Russia remains a leading arms supplier for India. The parties supported joint efforts to diversify and strengthen cooperation in this sphere and encouraged initiatives of the respective organizations in both countries aimed at meeting the permanently changing needs and requirements of each other.

The parties expressed their satisfaction with the efficient work of the Russian-Indian Intergovernmental Board on Military-Technical Cooperation and assigned it to permanently monitor and encourage implementation of decisions taken in the spheres of joint R&D, production, marketing, regular bilateral contacts and joint military exercises. The parties agreed that the long-term military-technical cooperation programme is a reliable basis for the cooperation, and it should be extended to 10 years after it expires in 2010. The parties commemorated the 10-th anniversary of the Russian-Indian joint venture for production of supersonic cruise missiles Bramos, and rollout of projects for joint development and production of a multipurpose air transport and fighter of the 5th generation, and expressed readiness to accelerate implementation of these projects.