Russia, India take bilateral relations to higher level

New Delhi: India and Russia have provided a significant boost to bilateral relations on Friday signing 19 pacts, including three in the civil nuclear field and one for purchase of 29 additional MiG-29K fighters besides signing a revised agreement on the Adm Gorshkov/INS Vikramaditya  aircraft carrier.

This was a particularly contentious deal that remained stuck for a number of years over pricing issues.

Agreements in the civil nuclear arena will allow Russia to build 12 atomic plants - six additional ones at Kudankulam (two are already close to commissioning) and six at Haripur in West Bengal, a new nuclear park allotted to Russia, along the lines of those allotted to the French in Maharashtra and the Americans in Gujarat.

The nuclear agreements will include not only building reactors and supply of fuel but also waste disposal. On safety related issues, Putin said the new generation of nuclear reactors developed in Russia have been used in several sites in his country and are considered among the safest in the world.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a agreement with Russian Space Agency for the production of a satellite navigation system.

The agreements were signed as part of the day-long working visit of the Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin to India where he engaged his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, in comprehensive talks.