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President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had a face-to-face talk before the two countries’ delegations joined them.

The parties discussed many aspects of political, trade, economic and military-technical partnership. They exchanged opinions on key international issues—in particular, regional security and the fight against international terrorism.

As he was opening the negotiations, Mr Putin said that Russian-Indian partnership was a major factor in international politics which created a firm basis for bilateral contacts.

Mr Vajpayee said, in his turn, that India regarded close friendly ties with Russia among its top foreign policy priorities as the two countries shared geo-strategic interests aimed at peace and stability in Asia.

He invited Mr Putin to visit India. The Russian President accepted the invitation with gratitude.

Mr Putin and Mr Vajpayee summarised the talks by adopting the Moscow Declaration between India and the Russian Federation on International Terrorism and the Joint Statement on Strategic Issues.

The parties regarded the military operation in Afghanistan as the initial stage of a campaign against international terrorism, which was to be brought to a logical end, the joint statement said. The Russian and Indian leaders called for full and unconditional compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions on terrorism. They also stressed the necessity of completing work as soon as possible on the draft International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and the Comprehensive Convention Against International Terrorism.

The joint statement of the Russian President and the Indian Prime Minister expressed their shared stances on further United Nations reform to enhance its leading role in international affairs. In this connection, Russia declared support of India as an influential member of the world community, and a strong and worthy candidate for permanent membership of the enlarged UN Security Council.

The parties confirmed their determination to promote the formation of a just and multi-polar world order.

The joint statement said that energy could come to the fore of Russian-Indian relations within a few years. The parties reached an agreement on expert consultations for the provisional establishment of an agency developing energy security partnership.

Mr Putin and Mr Vajpayee welcomed the conclusion of an agreement on India’s Oil and Natural Gas Commission’s participation in implementing the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project.

The Russian Ministry for Nuclear Power and the Indian Department of Atomic Energy signed a memorandum on implementing the Kudankulam nuclear power plant project in the two national leaders’ presence.

At the conclusion of the summit, Mr Putin and Mr Vajpayee made press statements and addressed a news conference.