Prez visit to enhance Indo-Russian N-ties

Heralding a new chapter in their "time-tested" partnership, India and Russia have agreed to enhance the bilateral ties in spheres like trade, peaceful use of nuclear energy and military-technical cooperation and vowed to tackle the menace of terrorism jointly.

President Pratibha Patil, who is on a four-day state visit to Russia, held wide-ranging talks with her Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and both agreed to intensify the strategic partnership between the two countries.

"Today we will add a new page" in the history of relationship between the two countries, Medvedev said welcoming Patil in the Green Room of the Kremlin palace.

Expressing satisfaction at the all-weather strategic partnership, he said at the start of the delegation-level talks with Patil: "Your visit demonstrates special strategic relations of partnership between Russia and India, which are not prone to conjuncture and change of political seasons."

Despite global slowdown, the bilateral trade volume has increased, he said, adding that priorities in the cooperation between the two countries would include expansion of ties in the field of energy, high technology and knowledge-based industry, metallurgy, especially in the  continuation of Kudankulam project and participation of ONGC  in Sakhalin-I.

Terming as "time-tested" the relationship between India and Russia, Patil said her talks with the Russian leadership were highly fruitful and held in a frank and friendly atmosphere.