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During a talk with Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Mr Putin said that Russia attached great importance to its developing parliamentary contacts with India. Mr Shekhawat, ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament, pointed out the many years of bilateral friendship and said that India intended to continue its partnership with Russia.

Mr Putin then met with Lal Krishna Advani, Indian Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, to say that the alliance of the two countries’ secret services was sufficient.

When he was meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs Yashwant Sinha, Mr Putin said that partnership with India was among Russia’s foreign political priorities. He mentioned both countries’ progress on essential issues—strategic stability and the establishment of a contemporary system of international relations. He said, however, that he regretted that the current scope of bilateral trade did not correspond to either of the countries’ capabilities.