PM leaves for Russia today,3 defence deals to be signed

In a bid to boost their strategic partnership to the next level,India and Russia will sign three agreements on defence as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leaves for Moscow on Sunday....

In a bid to boost their strategic partnership to the next level,India and Russia will sign three agreements on defence as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leaves for Moscow on Sunday,including one on ending ad hocism in servicing Russian military equipment.

The Indian Express was the first to report on this umbrella agreement which will take care of after-sales servicing of the defence equipment supplied by Russian manufacturers.

New Delhi may also sign an inter-governmental framework agreement for cooperation in the civil nuclear field during Singhs three-day visit to Russia. This is his sixth visit as Prime Minister since 2004.

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We hope to sign the frame work agreement soon, said Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao here on Saturday.

Singh,in his departure statement,said,At the summit meeting with President Medvedev,I hope to review the status of our bilateral cooperation,including in the key areas of defence,civil nuclear energy,space,science and technology and hydrocarbons. I will also exchange views with the President on key regional and global issues.