Russian vice premier in Delhi to finalise strategic deals
15 Feb 2010
Moscow: Russia deputy prime minister, Sergei Sobyanin, will arrive in New Delhi tomorrow on a three-day trip with the aim of finalising key bilateral nuclear and defence deals. The nitty-gritty's will be finalised ahead of prime minister Vladimir Putin's visit next month. 
Russian vice premier, Sergei Sobyanin
Sobyanin will be in town from February 15 to 17, and will hold meetings with external affairs minister, SM Krishna, and national security advisor, Shivshankar Menon. He will also call on prime minister Manmohan Singh.
Prime minister Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Delhi in mid-March, which will be his first visit as premier.
Putin, it is being given to understand, is keen on strengthening strategic partnership with New Delhi and wants his visit to India to culminate in the signing of a number of deals in key sectors.
These include pacts on construction of four additional reactors at the Kudankulam nuclear park and the long-pending commercial contracts for the joint development and production of multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) and fifth-generation fighter jets.
Ahead of Sobyanin's visit, Putin too called up Indian premier Singh last week to finalise the agenda of his India visit.
Moscow is now keeping a wary eye out for a US-China nexus in world affairs even as India surveys its options after a perceptible cooling off in relations with the US.