World | India
Nuclear deal and aircraft carrier top Zubkov's agenda
India and Russia will discuss expansion of business ties and energy cooperation, including nuclear energy and hydrocarbons, during Russian Prime Minister Victor A. Zubkov's maiden visit to the country on Tuesday.
- IANS
- Published: 23:55 February 11, 2008
New Delhi: India and Russia will discuss expansion of business ties and energy cooperation, including nuclear energy and hydrocarbons, during Russian Prime Minister Victor A. Zubkov's maiden visit to the country on Tuesday.
A host of crucial issues will be on the table, including bilateral civil nuclear cooperation and the escalation in the price of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh holds talks with his Russian counterpart.
Date with the Taj
Five pacts in the field of aviation and telecom are likely to be signed after the talks, official sources said.
Zubkov will formally inaugurate the "Year of Russia in India" tonight with a gala concert framed against the magnificent ruins of the 16th century Purana Qila fort. Like other visiting foreign leaders, Zubkov too has a date with the Taj Mahal in Agra before he heads back to Moscow tomorrow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was widely expected to open the year of Russia in India but the presidential polls scheduled for March seem to have kept him away.
The issue of expanding civil nuclear cooperation will be discussed but an agreement on building additional reactors at the Kudankulam plant will not be signed this time as well, the sources said.
A bilateral nuclear pact could not be signed during Manmohan Singh's visit to Moscow in November last year after India made it clear that it would not enter into bilateral deals without a rule change by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Russia is, however, confident that the NSG will effect necessary changes in the rules to conduct global civil nuclear commerce with India and the India-US deal will pass muster in Washington regardless of who comes to power.
News Editor's choice
-
6,000 cups and counting: Addicted to that tea
This cafeteria in Al Mamzar attracts thousands of customers daily, including the rich and not so rich
-
Swimming pool horror: Twins hospitalised
Twins rushed to hospital after collapsing from chlorine inhalation at swimming pool in their villa
-
Play your cards right with credit card interest
UAE Central Bank plans to cap interest rates, but are you paying thirty-five per cent now?
