In a clear
attempt to allay Russia's apprehensions, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday
said it will remain an "indispensable" partner for India's defence
needs even as he underlined that the bilateral ties should adapt to changing
times to address challenges.
Singh hailed
the India-Russia relations, saying it is marked by "abiding comfort with
each other" and the warmth and goodwill between the people ensure that the
strategic partnership will continue to grow in strength and relevance in the
changing world.
He
highlighted various elements of partnership covering the fields of nuclear energy,
defence, hydrocarbons and trade besides cooperation in international matters to
portray the promising future for the relationship.
"Even
this brief overview of the fruits of our cooperation should be enough to
justify fully the description of our relationship as a special and privileged
strategic partnership," Singh said in his address at the Moscow State
Institute of International Relations.
Noting that
observers may well ask how this relationship could be taken to greater heights
he said, "I am convinced that while the strength and the intensity of our
relationship will remain undiminished, it must also adapt itself to the
changing times so that we can address the full range of current opportunities
and challenges. I am also sure that, as in the past, we shall face these
challenges together."
At the
bilateral level, the Prime Minister said, "while Russia will remain an
indispensable partner for our defence needs, our future defence partnership
must be increasingly based on technology transfer, joint ventures and
co-development and co-production."
The
statement assumes significance as India has lately been looking at new vendors
like the US and Israel for its military hardware, creating apprehensions in
Russia which has been long-standing major supplier of the defence equipment.
"We
also see Russia as a key partner for our energy security. We have an ambitious
long-term plan of cooperation in nuclear energy. The programme of cooperation
in hydrocarbons that we are drawing up will further intensify our partnership
in oil and gas and renewable energy sources," he said.
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