India, Russia sign joint declaration

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi Friday for the annual summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Indian and Russia signed a Joint Declaration emphasizing strategic partnership between the two countries.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Indian and Russia signed Friday a Joint Declaration emphasizing strategic partnership between the two countries and taking note of the transformation in the global environment in recent years.

The two countries also signed accords on outer-space, long-termcooperation in the field of joint development and use of Russian Global Navigational Satellite System (GLONASS) for peaceful purposes, visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports and cooperation between the cities of Mumbai and St Petersburg, the Press Trust of India reported.

The agreement on outer-space and GLONASS was signed by Indian Space Research Organization chairman G. Madhavan Nair and directorof Russian Federal Space Agency A. Perminov.

India's foreign secretary Shyam Sharan inked the deal on visa-free travel with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alexeev.

Mumbai Municipal Corporation mayor Mahadev Deole signed the agreement for cooperation with Valentina Matvienko, governor of Russian President Vladimir Putin's home town St Petersburg.

Putin, accompanied by his wife Lyudmilla, and a 70-member ranking delegation consisting of senior ministers and businessmen,arrived here early Friday on a three-day visit.