NEW DELHI, December 5 (Sputnik) — The India-Russia economic partnership will be at the center of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India next week, Ajay Bisaria, a joint secretary from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, said Friday.
"It [the visit] will have a strong focus on redefining the economic partnership between our countries, Bisaria said during a press briefing.
According to Bisaria, growth has been recorded in the economic, commercial and investment cooperation between India and Russia. However, he noted that this cooperation is "well below the potential".
Bisaria also noted that the $10-billion turnover that was between India and Russia in 2013 will likely remain the same in 2014.
"We are making strenuous efforts to create conducive conditions for strengthening our economic linkages through trade and investment. We are keenly interested in participating in more hydrocarbon projects in Russia," Bisaria added.
Putin will visit India on December 10-11 to co-lead the 15th Annual India-Russia Summit. According to the statement, Putin will be accompanied by a business delegation in addition to high-ranking officials. Separate talks are also scheduled to be held between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A number of documents on bilateral cooperation in the fields of defense, nuclear energy, customs, banking and energy will be signed during the summit. According to sources in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, a discussion on exports of rough diamonds from Russia will also be held.
