New Delhi, Moscow Discuss Defense, Energy Cooperation – Foreign Ministry

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin on the two countries’ strategic cooperation in energy and defense sectors in Moscow, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup said Monday in a statement.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, the top Indian diplomat met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in the Russia-India-China (RIC) format in the Russian capital.

"Meeting with DPM Rogozin provided opportunity for in depth review of the Strategic Partnership. They also discussed the energy partnership between India and Russia and ways to strengthen it," the statement reads.

According to Swarup, Swaraj and Rogozin also reviewed progress in Russia’s participation in India’s defense sector under the Make In India program launched to transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub.

A defense cooperation deal between the two countries was signed in December 2015 and envisions the Russian Kamov Ka-226 helicopter being built in India.

The two sides are looking forward to the next summit of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation in India, Swarup added.

Russia and India have enjoyed mutually beneficial strategic relations, especially in the field of defense and military cooperation, since the 1960s.