PTI, NEW DELHI: Disclosing that India and Russia have begun development of a sophisticated combat aircraft, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has said that the defence co-operation between the two countries was of a long-term and mutually beneficial character.
Asserting that Indo-Russian defence and military co-operation was “stable and rapidly” developing, Vajpayee said the two countries have started work on a fifth generation combat plane.
Two state-of-art frigates built in Russia have already joined the Indian naval fleet and deals on purchase of Sukhoi-30 MKI war planes and their licensed production in India are underway, Vajpayee told a group of Russian journalists in New Delhi on the eve of his departure on a three-day official visit to Moscow.
Russia has delivered the modern T-90 tanks to the Indian army he said adding that the “implementation of these and other projects proves co-operation between the two countries in the defence area is of a long-term and mutually beneficial character.”
“The two countries are committed to maintaining and consolidating bilateral strategic partnership,” he was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS news agency.
Defence cooperation, the fight against international terrorism, the situation in Iraq and UN reforms are issues that will figure during the fourth annual summit between Vajpayee and Russian President Vladimir Putin, External Affairs Minister Yaswant Sinha said in a separate interview to ITAR-TASS.
Two documents will be signed relating to cooperation in science and technology during the visit, he said observing that India and Russia have the world's largest Science and Technology cooperation programmes.
Vajpayee's visit would provide an opportunity for the two leaders to review the progress in key areas of bilateral relations, particularly on the decisions taken during the last Summit meeting in New Delhi, he said.
As far as bilateral issues are concerned, “focus will be on assessing our trade and investment relations and discussing measures taken in the recent past to impart a thrust to them,” Sinha said.
The Prime Minister said the “time-tested Indo-Russian ties based on complete trust were on the rise and extending to new areas of mutually beneficial co-operation”.
Vajpayee said his regular dialogue with Putin provided a base for exchange of views on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest and allows the two nations, which have relations of a strategic partnership, to closely co-ordinate their positions on various matters.
