New Delhi
21 December 2010
In addition to supporting India's quest for a permanent seat in the United
Nations Security Council, Russia will push for and support India's membership of
regional security and cooperation organisations in Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific, such as
the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC).
The joint statement issued towards the end of visiting Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev's talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India's membership would
significantly increase the SCO's political weight.
The SCO comprises Russia, China and four Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observers
of the organisation.
"The Russian Federation agreed to make efforts along with other SCO members to
accelerate the process of India's entry into the organisation," the joint statement read.
Russia also said that India joining the APEC Forum would enhance the APEC's potential
and effectiveness and expand trade and investment cooperation in the region. Russia
supports India's application to join the APEC and intends to work in this direction when
the moratorium on the new membership is lifted.
Vladivostok in Russia's far-east will host the APEC summit in 2012. (The US state of
Hawaii will host the APEC summit in 2011.)
Prime Minister Singh and Mr Medvedev agreed that "it was important for India and
Russia to work towards the creation of a transparent, open, inclusive and balanced
security and cooperation architecture in the Asia Pacific region".
Mr Medvedev also expressed readiness "to assist and promote a discussion and
positive decision" on India's full membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Welcoming India's determination to actively contribute to international efforts aimed at
strengthening nuclear non-proliferation regime, the Russian side also took into positive
consideration India's interest in full membership in Missile Technology Control Regime
(MTCR) and the Wassenaar Arrangement, which is a multilateral export control regime
for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
For its part, Russia has said it will consider the possibility of establishing cooperation
with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC.)
Both India and Russia welcomed the proposed inclusion of South Africa into the BRIC
process in 2011.
Some of the agreements signed between India and Russia:
* "Preliminary design contract" for joint design and development of Fifth Generation
Fighter Aircraft (FGFA)
* MoU on joint research and development in nuclear reactor technology and peaceful
uses of atomic energy
* Inter-governmental agreement for enhancement of cooperation in oil and gas sector
* Framework agreement for undertaking joint projects in the hydrocarbon sector
* Agreement on mutual simplification of visa requirements for certain categories
* MoU on cooperation in pharmaceutical sector
* Integrated long-term programme of cooperation in S&T and innovation
* Joint work document for the establishment of the Indian - Russian scientific and
technological centre
* MoU on combating irregular migration
* MoU in the field of elections
* Agreement on cooperation in emergency management
* MoU on IT cooperation
* MoU for setting up of a 50:50 joint venture for an integrated steel plant in Karnataka.
[The MoU was signed on December 10 rpt 10.]
* Agreement on GLONASS (acronym for Global Navigation Satellite System), as part of
which Russia will give India access to the GLONASS high precision navigation signals
* Another agreement on joint production of ground equipment for introduction of
GLONASS-related services in India
Highlights of India - Russia Joint Statement:
* India, Russia called upon Pakistan to expeditiously bring all the perpetrators, authors
and accomplices of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks to justice
* Russia supports India as a deserving and strong candidate for a permanent seat in an
expanded United Nations Security Council
* India, Russia to consider the possibility of a comprehensive economic cooperation
agreement
* India, Russia agree to consider cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with
third countries
* Set a trade target of $ 20 billion by 2015
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