India seeking sustained energy partnership with Moscow

[Boris]

Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov on Monday left for New Delhi on a crucial visit during which he is expected to reaffirm Moscow`s commitment to the strategic ties with India including defence cooperation.

Ways to enhance trade and economic relations will dominate the agenda of Zubkov`s two-day visit during which the two sides are expected to sign five agreements, including one in aviation sector.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Zubkov will hold wide-ranging talks discussing ways to increase two-way trade and economic ties and cooperation in various other fields, sources said.

Zubkov is expected to brief Singh on the forthcoming changes in the kremlin power structure after the next month`s presidential polls when President Vladimir Putin leaves office.

Russian media today reported that Zubkov is believed to be carrying a compromise formula to resolve the issue of upgradation of aircraft carrier `Admiral Gorshkov` for the Indian Navy.

During his visit, Zubkov will meet President Pratibha Patil and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and leader of the opposition L K Advani and explore ways of enhancing ties between the two countries.

Zubkov is also expected to reassure New Delhi about Russia`s committment to continue the policy of strategic ties with India when a new president is elected in the country next month.

The Russian Prime Minister is visiting India to inaugurate the year of Russia, part of an initiative by the President Putin and Prime Minister Singh to enhance people-to-people contacts and exchanges and generate awareness about each-other in their respective countries.

Zubkov is slated to fill the key post of the chairman of `Gazprom,` the Russian natural gas monopoly in June end as he will demit the prime minister`s office after march 2 presidential polls.

His exposure to India would be of great importance for New Delhi, which is seeking sustained energy partnership with Moscow.

In his interview to media on the eve of his visit, Zubkov lauded the "positive experience" accumulated by ROSNEFT and OVL in Sakhalin-1 offshore project.

The Russian Prime Minister said that he did not see any hurdles in India entering into such joint projects in Russia and other countries.

Zubkov is leading a 120 member business delegation to India with a focus on boosting economic ties.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, who co-chairs Indo-Russian joint commission and economic development, and Trade Minister Elvira Nabiullina are also part of the delegation.

CEO of the nuclear energy industry corporation `Rosatom` Sergei Kiriyenko is also part of the delegation.