India and Russia Wednesday pledged to work as partners standing against weapons of mass destruction and impart a new dimension to their strategic relationship by expanding bilateral cooperation in diverse fields such as energy security, trade and economics, high technology and peaceful uses of nuclear energy and defence.
In a joint statement issued at the end of the four-day visit to Russia by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the two countries said, "As partners standing against WMD proliferation, India and Russia intend to continue their efforts to achieve this objective." Both countries stressed on intensifying efforts for development and diversification of cooperation in trade and economic relations and making it a strong pillar of their strategic partnership.
"The energy sector is a high priority area in which both countries are fully capable in all respects to forge long-term and large-scale joint collaborations to mutual respect," the four-page joint statement said.
Dr Singh and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who held summit level talks, Tuesday reiterated their preparedness to continue bilateral energy dialogue, concentrating on ways to enhance energy security, opportunities for improving the process of diversification of energy supplies and for strengthening commercial energy partnership in already identified and prospective oil and gas projects in India, Russia and third world countries.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the progress in the implementation of major joint projects -- Sakhalin I oil and gas project, exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the Bay of Bengal off-shore areas.
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