New Delhi: Giving a fillip to theirties, India and Russia on Friday signed 19 pacts, including three in civil nuclear field and one forpurchase of 29 MiG-29 fighters besides inking the revised agreement on Gorshkovaircraft carrier, a deal that was stuck for three years over price.
Under the agreements in civil nuclearfield, Russia will build 12 atomic plants -- six in Kudankulam and six in Haripurin West Bengal.
The agreements were signed during theday-long visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who held comprehensive talkswith his counterpart Manmohan Singh with an aim of exploring opportunities forfurther boosting the relations.
They also discussed regional issues,including Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the context of terrorism and agreed to intensify theirconsultations on Afghanistan the challenges posed by terrorism and extremism inthe region.
The pacts in civil nuclear field areAgreement on Cooperation in the use of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes andAgreement on Road Map for the Serial Construction of Russian Designed NuclearPower Plants.
A MoU was also signed on Nuclear Powerbetween NPCIL and Atomstroy Export for construction of Third and Fourth atomicplant in Kudankulum in Tamil Nadu.
The revised agreement on Gorshkovaircraft carrier deal was also signed during the visit. The deal had initiallybeen signed in 2004 at the cost of USD 1.5 billion, along with 16 MiG-29Ks.However, the Russians later demanded USD 2.9 billion, citing escalation ofcosts.
After protracted negotiations, the two sidessettled at USD 2.34 billion.