On December
11, 2014 PM
Modi and
Russian
President
Vladimir
Putin
unveiled the
‘Druzhba-Dosti'
vision to
strengthen
the
bilateral
partnership
over the
next decade
• Russia's
Rosatom will
build 12
nuclear
reactors in
India.
Indian
officials
said a total
of six
reactors
will be
built at
Kudankulam.
A further
six will
follow at
sites to be
determined
• On defence,
the two
sides will
swiftly move
ahead to
develop a
joint
5th-generation
fighter and
a multi-role
transport
aircraft, in
addition to
the chopper
deal
'Druzhba-Dosti:
A Vision for
strengthening
the
Indian-Russian
Partnership
over the
next decade'
- Joint
Statement
during the
visit of
President of
the Russian
Federation
to India
1.
The
President of
the Russian
Federation,
H.E. Mr.
Vladimir V.
Putin, paid
an official
visit to
India on
December 11,
2014 at the
invitation
of the Prime
Minister of
the Republic
of India,
H.E. Mr.
Narendra
Modi, for
the 15th
Annual
Summit
between the
two
countries.
During the
Summit, the
leaders
agreed on a
vision for
strengthening
the
India-Russia
partnership
over the
next decade.
Recognizing
that the
special and
privileged
strategic
partnership
between
India and
Russia has
been built
on the
strong
foundation
of mutual
trust,
bilateral
understanding
and unique
people-to-people
affinities,
the leaders
emphasized
that the
time has
come for a
significant
broad-basing
of bilateral
cooperation
to carry the
friendship
between the
countries to
a
qualitatively
new level.
2.
India deeply
values the
monumental
contributions
made by
Russia to
India’s
developmental
and defence
needs in the
second half
of the
twentieth
century. The
Declaration
on Strategic
Partnership
of 2000 and
the Annual
Summits it
initiated,
have allowed
the two
countries to
redefine and
strengthen
their
partnership
in the
twenty-first
century.
3.
The leaders
expressed
confidence
that a
strong
bilateral
strategic
partnership
advances the
national
interests of
the two
countries
and
contributes
to a more
stable and
secure world
order. The
two
countries
have
resolved to
strengthen
this
partnership
over the
next decade
through
concrete
initiatives
in diverse
areas and to
make the
bilateral
institutional
dialogue
architecture
more
result-oriented
and
forward-looking.
While both
leaders will
continue to
meet on the
margins of
multilateral
events, the
Annual
Summits will
review and
supervise
the progress
in the
realization
of this
vision for
India-Russian
partnership.
Energy
4.
Acknowledging
natural
complementarities
in the area
of energy
and India's
quest for
energy
security,
the sides
will expand
manifold
bilateral
cooperation
in the field
of energy,
including
oil and gas,
electric
power
production,
nuclear
energy,
renewable
energy
sources, and
energy
efficiency.
5.
The
bilateral
program ‘on
enhanced
cooperation
in oil and
gas sphere’
underlines
the serious
commitments
of the two
sides to
develop
cooperation
in this area
of great
promise. The
leaders
envisage
broader
collaboration
between
hydrocarbon
companies of
the two
countries in
oil and gas
exploration
and
production
as well as
in LNG
projects and
supplies.
The sides
will promote
natural gas
utilization
as an
abundant and
environmentally
friendly
source of
energy for
diverse
purposes in
their
economies,
including
motor fuel
and
feedstock.
It is
expected
that Indian
companies
will
strongly
participate
in projects
related to
new oil and
gas fields
in the
territory of
the Russian
Federation.
The sides
will study
the
possibilities
of building
a
hydrocarbon
pipeline
system,
connecting
the Russian
Federation
with India.
They will
also examine
avenues for
participation
in
petrochemical
projects in
each other's
country and
in third
countries.
The leaders
have
encouraged
Indian and
Russian
companies to
pursue
greater
participation
in each
other's
power
generation
projects, as
also in
supply of
equipment,
technology
for enhanced
oil
recoveries
and
extraction
of coal,
including
coking coal.
6.
The two
countries
view nuclear
energy as a
clean,
reliable and
viable
source of
energy. They
have a joint
vision for
cooperation
in nuclear
energy,
aimed at
serial
construction
of nuclear
power units,
based on
Russian
design, as
also on and
existing and
possible
future
bilateral
agreements.
India and
Russia will
expand their
cooperation
in science
and
technology,
industry,
localization
of equipment
and spares,
uranium
mining,
fabrication
and supply
of nuclear
fuel,
management
of spent
fuel and in
other
aspects of
the nuclear
fuel cycle.
Towards this
objective,
the Indian
side agreed
to
expeditiously
identify a
second site,
in addition
to
Kudankulam,
for the
construction
of the
Russian-designed
nuclear
power units
in India.
7.
India and
Russia will
work
together to
further
strengthen
regional
multilateral
cooperation
in the field
of energy.
In this
context, the
sides
recognize
that the
first
Asia-Pacific
Energy Forum
(APEF), held
in the city
of
Vladivostok
in May 2013,
has laid the
foundation
for an
enhanced
regional
energy
dialogue
under the
auspices of
the UN
Economic and
Social
Commission
for Asia and
the Pacific
(UNESCAP).
They will be
guided by
the
provisions
of the ‘APEF
Ministerial
Declaration’
and ‘Plan of
Action on
Regional
Cooperation
for Enhanced
Energy
Security and
the
Sustainable
Use of
Energy in
Asia’,
endorsed by
UNESCAP
Resolution
70/9.
8.
The energy
efficiency
agencies of
the sides
will engage
more closely
to exchange
experiences
and best
practices.
India and
Russia will
also
cooperate in
the
development
and
efficient
use of
renewable
energy.
Technology
and
Innovation
9.
Noting the
synergies
between
national
efforts by
the two
countries to
develop a
knowledge-economy
powered by
technology
and
innovation,
India and
Russia will
increase
collaboration
in joint
design,
development,
manufacturing
and
marketing of
technology-driven
products and
scientific
interaction
between the
two
countries.
In
particular,
such
cooperation
will extend
to space
applications,
defence
technologies,
aviation,
new
materials,
communications
and
information
technology.
10.
The two
leaders see
limitless
opportunities
for
bilateral
cooperation
in outer
space to
advance
societal
applications
and
scientific
knowledge.
The space
agencies of
India and
Russia will
engage more
actively on
space
technology
applications,
space
transportation,
satellite
navigation,
space
science and
planetary
exploration.
In 2015, the
two
countries
will
commemorate
the 40 years
of the
launch of
Indian
satellite
'Aryabhata'
using Soyuz
launch
vehicle. By
the time of
the 50th
anniversary
of the
launch, the
leaders
would expect
significant
collaboration
between
India and
Russia on
peaceful
uses of
outer space.
11.
Defence
cooperation
between
India and
Russia is
founded on
deep mutual
trust and
promotes
wider peace
and
security.
The two
countries
have already
moved to a
phase of
joint design
and
development
of defence
systems. The
sides
recognize
the
virtually
unlimited
opportunities
for
enhancing
this
cooperation,
increasingly
based on
joint
research and
development,
joint
manufacturing,
technology
sharing and
collaborative
research in
futuristic
technologies,
in
accordance
with
existing
agreements
on
military-technical
cooperation.
To this end,
India has
permitted
foreign
direct
investment
in the
defence
sector up to
49 per cent.
The sides
will exploit
these
opportunities
optimally
and enrich
bilateral
interaction
through
regular
joint
military
exercises,
training in
each other's
services
institutions
and
institutionalized
consultations
between the
armed
forces.
12.
The sides
will
intensify
bilateral
scientific
and
technological
interaction
to
increasingly
focus on
innovative,
high-technology
sectors and
their
commercial
applications.
They will
further
develop
various
support
mechanisms
for joint
research.
Their
bilateral
scientific
and
technological
collaboration
will cover
frontier
areas, such
as
environmental
science,
power sector
(including
alternative
sources of
energy),
energy
efficiency
and energy
security,
information
and
communication
technologies,
nanotechnology
and new
materials,
engineer
science,
bio-energy,
nano-biotechnology,
bio-equipment
and
affordable
diagnosing
equipment
for
healthcare
and
agriculture.
It will be
aimed at
creating
institutional
linkages
between
scientific
research
institutions
of the two
countries.
In view of
the
importance
of
safeguarding
food
security,
the sides
would expect
to conduct
further
joint
research in
the fields
of
horticulture
and
biotechnology.
They will
exchange
scientific
and
technological
manpower to
build
capacity for
exchange of
knowledge
most
relevant to
the
economies of
the two
countries.
Further
academic
exchanges
will also be
promoted
through
schemes for
visits by
scientists
that will
enhance
human
resource
capacity
building in
the science
and
technology
sector. An
action plan
on this
subject will
be prepared.
13.
India and
Russia
recognize
the
importance
of the
Arctic and
the
contributions
in promoting
cooperative
activities
to address
Arctic
issues by
the Arctic
Council,
given that
Russia is a
member and
India has
joined as an
observer in
May 2013.
The sides
agreed to
facilitate
scientific
cooperation
to study the
challenges
(like
melting ice,
climate
change,
marine life
and
biodiversity),
facing the
rapidly-changing
Arctic
region.
14.
Given the
strategic
importance
of rare
earth
minerals and
their
economic and
commercial
utility, the
sides will
enhance
cooperation
in rare
earth
minerals’
mining,
technology
development
and
research.
They will
explore
joint
development
of
technologies
for
processing
rare earth
materials.
Expanded
economic
engagement
15.
The sides
will promote
bilateral
economic,
trade and
investment
cooperation
to
contribute
to the
enhanced
role of
emerging
markets in
the world
economy and
to foster
sustainable,
balanced and
inclusive
global
growth.
16.
The two
leaders
recognized
the enormous
untapped
potential in
bilateral
trade,
investment
and economic
cooperation.
The two
governments
will
intensify
efforts to
identify
measures to
facilitate
the full
realization
of this
potential.
They have
encouraged
Indian and
Russian
enterprises
to explore
more fully
new
opportunities
arising from
increasing
national
focus on
infrastructure
development
and
expanding
the
manufacturing
sector. It
is expected
that Russian
companies
will utilize
the
opportunities
in a wide
range of
Indian
sectors and
will ‘Make
in India’.
17.
The sides
will
encourage
payments in
national
currencies
for
bilateral
trade. The
Working
Group
established
for this
purpose will
make
recommendations
on
eliminating
the existing
barriers and
stimulating
transactions
in national
currencies.
The leaders
agreed that
the
initiative
launched by
India and
the Eurasian
Economic
Commission
for a Joint
Study Group
(JSG) to
explore the
feasibility
of a
comprehensive
economic
cooperation
agreement
covering
trade in
goods,
services,
investment
cooperation,
movement of
natural
persons and
mutual
recognition
of
standards,
is of great
importance
for
bilateral
economic
cooperation.
The Russian
side will
support the
productive
work of the
JSG so that
this Group
completes
its study
within an
optimal
timeframe.
The leaders
noted that
the
International
North-South
Transport
Corridor can
vastly
improve the
efficiency
of bilateral
trade by
significantly
reducing
transit time
and freight
costs. India
and Russia
will work
together to
conclude the
necessary
multilateral
arrangements
and outreach
to step up
the use of
this
corridor at
the
earliest.
The leaders
noted with
satisfaction
the progress
made in
promoting
direct trade
of diamonds
between our
two
countries
and
particularly
in
facilitating
enhanced
diamond
trade
through
diamond
exchanges in
India. These
measures
should
expand the
share of
direct
diamond
exports from
Russia to
India
significantly.
18.
India-Russia
mutual
investment
should
become a new
point of
growth in
bilateral
economic
cooperation.
There will
be constant
focus on the
agreed plans
for
bilateral
investment
cooperation,
the sides
will take
all
necessary
measures to
support
successful
implementation
of such
plans. An
emphasis
will be laid
on promoting
Russian
investments
in India in
major
infrastructure
projects
like DMIC,
Smart Cities
and Freight
Corridors,
as well as
in broader
sectors like
telecom,
power and
roads. In
Russia,
Indian
participation
in
Industrial
Parks and
technology
platforms,
in sectors
like
pharmaceuticals,
fertilizers,
coal and
energy will
be
encouraged.
The sides
will
encourage
specialized
investment
funds to
invest in
these
sectors and
in the joint
manufacturing
of high
technology
products. In
this
context,
they welcome
the
initiative
of a direct
investment
fund of US$
2 billion
between
Rosnano and
suitable
Indian
investment
partners for
implementation
of high-tech
projects.
They will
protect the
legitimate
interests of
investing
companies.
In
particular,
the sides
will enter
into
discussions
to
renegotiate
the existing
bilateral
agreement
for
protection
and
promotion of
investments,
initially
agreed on 23
December
1994, to
provide for
the
protection
of foreign
investments
in each
other’s
territory.
19.
The leaders
noted that
the
governments
of the two
countries
and their
industry
representatives
should join
hands to
disseminate
information
about
business
opportunities
in each
other’s
countries.
The sides
also agreed
on mutual
trade
facilitation
measures,
particularly
with regards
to
simplified
customs
procedures.
In this
context,
they agreed
to finalize
shortly a
protocol on
a "Green
Corridor”
project. The
leaders also
invited
companies of
the two
countries to
realize the
substantial
opportunities
in
engineering;
pharmaceuticals;
information
and
communication
technology;
chemicals;
fertilizers;
metallurgy;
agro and
animal
products;
and
transport.
20.
The sides
will promote
further
strengthening
and
increasing
the
effectiveness
of our
bilateral
inter-regional
cooperation.
They noted
with
satisfaction
that many
cities and
regions in
the two
countries
have
established
linkages (Cities:
New
Delhi-Moscow
and St.
Petersburg;
Bangalore-Novosibirsk;
Chandigarh-Ufa;
Chennai-Volgograd;
Hyderabad-Kazan;
Kolkata-Vladivostok
and
Yaroslavl;
Kochi-Pyatigorsk;
Mumbai-St.
Petersburg;
Pune-Yekaterinburg;
Panjim-Krasnodar;
Thiruvanathapuram-Stavropol;
Thrissur-Yessentuki.
Regions:
Andhra
Pradesh-Tatarstan;
Gujarat-
Astrakhan
and
Tatarstan;
Haryana-Bashkortostan;
Karnataka-Irkutsk,
Khanty-Mansiysk
Autonomous
Okrug-Ugra
and Samara;
Kerala-Irkutsk;
Maharashtra-Siberia)
for
cooperation
in various
fields. The
leaders
agreed to
encourage
linkages
between
other
regions and
cities of
the two
countries
with a view
to enhance
trade and
investment,
tourism,
cultural and
people-to-people
contacts.
The leaders
expressed
confidence
that a web
of linkages
between
these and
other
regions and
cities will
bring
substantial
benefits to
these
regions and
cities and
bolster
India-Russia
partnership
further.
21.
With these
and other
initiatives,
the leaders
agreed to
step up
efforts for
enhancing
bilateral
trade in the
coming years
and set a
target of
bilateral
trade
turnover of
goods and
services at
US$30
billion by
the year
2025. It is
expected
that the
level of
mutual
investments
by then will
be over
US$15
billion each
way.
Global
order and
world peace
22.
Reaffirming
their
commitment
to upholding
the
principles
of
international
law and
promoting
the central
role of the
UN in
international
relations,
India and
Russia will
work
together to
promote a
polycentric
and
democratic
world order
based on
shared
interests of
all
countries.
The two
countries
will work
for
democratization
of global
political,
economic,
financial
and social
institutions
so that
these
institutions
better
represent
the
aspirations
and
interests of
all segments
of the
international
community.
India and
Russia
oppose
economic
sanctions
that do not
have the
approval of
the United
Nations
Security
Council.
23.
The sides
reaffirmed
the need for
UN Security
Council
reform in
order to
make it more
representative
and
effective in
dealing with
emerging
challenges.
They agree
that any
expansion of
the Security
Council
should
reflect
contemporary
realities.
In this
context, the
sides will
work
together to
ensure
reforms of
the UN
Security
Council.
Russia will
extend its
support for
India’s
candidature
for
permanent
membership
of the
Council.
24.
The two
countries
will consult
and
coordinate
in
multilateral
fora such as
G20, EAS,
BRICS and
RIC. Russia
looks
forward to
India
becoming a
full member
of the SCO
following
the
completion
of all
required
negotiations
procedures.
The sides
support the
evolution of
an open,
balanced and
inclusive
security
architecture
in the Asia
Pacific
region based
on
collective
efforts,
considering
legitimate
interests of
all states
of the
region and
guided by
respect for
norms and
principles
of
international
law.
25.
The leaders
condoled the
loss of life
in senseless
terrorist
acts in
recent days
in Jammu &
Kashmir,
India and in
Chechnya,
Russia. They
believe that
the nature
and spread
of
international
terrorism in
recent
years, as
demonstrated
by
developments
in their
shared
neighbourhood,
require
global
resolve and
cooperative
measures of
the
international
community
without
double
standards or
selectivity.
The threat
to all
humanity
posed by
terrorism
justifies a
collaborative
approach, in
accordance
with
international
law and the
Charter of
the United
Nations,
putting
aside
differences
and tensions
between
countries
and regions
in other
political
and economic
areas. The
sides agreed
to work
together for
the adoption
of the
Comprehensive
Convention
on
International
Terrorism by
the 70th
Anniversary
Summit of
the UN. The
leaders
expressed
hope that
all safe
havens and
sanctuaries
for
terrorists
will be
wiped out
without
delay and
terrorism
would be
completely
eradicated
from the
common
region
within a
decade.
26.
The leaders
welcomed the
peaceful
transition
of political
authority in
Afghanistan
and called
upon the
international
community to
join efforts
to support
reconstruction
and economic
development
in that
country and
to continue
capacity
building of
its national
security
forces. The
sides hope
to see an
Afghanistan
that would
within a
decade
flourish as
a prosperous
hub for
trade,
industry and
energy.
27.
As two
states
possessing
advanced
technologies,
India and
Russia have
converging
interests in
preventing
the
proliferation
of weapons
of mass
destruction.
This is
reflected in
their
participation
and
positions in
international
fora such as
the
Conference
on
Disarmament,
IAEA,
Global
Initiative
to Combat
Nuclear
Terrorism
and
stringent
national
export
control
measures.
The Russian
side
confirmed
its support
to India’s
intention to
seek full
membership
in the
Nuclear
Suppliers
Group and
its
readiness to
facilitate
positive
decision of
the Group on
this matter.
Russia also
supported
India’s
interest in
full
membership
in the MTCR
and
Wassenaar
Arrangement.
28.
As
responsible
users of
outer space,
India and
Russia share
substantive
interests in
the
long-term
sustainability
of outer
space
activities
and in
maintaining
outer space
for peaceful
purposes.
They will
work
together in
the UN
Committee on
Peaceful
Uses of
Outer Space
in Vienna,
the
Conference
on
Disarmament
in Geneva,
the UNGA
First
Committee in
New York and
other fora
to advance
their shared
interests.
29.
Information
and
Communication
Technologies
(ICTs) are
transforming
this world
and playing
a vital role
in
development.
The sides
will
collaborate
to promote
safe, secure
and
sustainable
use of ICTs
globally,
including
through the
UN.
30.
In the
backdrop of
regional
issues and
conflicts,
the leaders
voiced their
strong
conviction
that
political
dialogue and
negotiation
should be
the sole
means of
resolution
of
conflicts,
rather than
military
force.
People-to-people
ties
31.
Recognizing
the enormous
goodwill,
respect and
strong ties
among the
peoples of
India and
Russia, the
sides
supported
enhancing
measures by
the two
governments
to promote
and support
cultural
exchanges
through
annual
festivals of
culture,
exchanges
between
cultural
institutions,
think tanks,
tourism
promotion
events and
other
initiatives.
32.
The sides
will take
steps to
strengthen
education
ties through
facilitating
and
extending
support to
each other's
students.
They
supported
the
establishment
of
institutional
linkages
between
universities
and academic
institutions
of the two
countries.
The sides
will promote
in this
context the
development
of network
partnerships
between
universities.
Early
conclusion
of
agreements
on mutual
recognition
of
education,
qualification
and degrees
should
further
encourage
leading
universities
and research
institutions
of India and
Russia to
support
greater
exchanges of
student
research
scholars,
post-doctoral
candidates
and
faculties.
33.
India and
Russia will
maintain
close
contacts and
interaction
in
international
sports
matters. The
sides agreed
to deepen
interaction
and expand
the scope of
India-Russia
cooperation
in the field
of sports,
to support
an exchange
of practices
between
sports’
federations,
scientific
and research
institutions,
promote
physical
training and
sports and
direct
contacts
between
organizations
of the two
countries.
The sides
will
encourage
cooperation
to promote
health and
fitness
through
traditional
Indian forms
of Yoga and
Ayurveda,
including
through
Yoga centres,
camps and
Ayurveda
centres.
34.
The Russian
side
welcomed the
simplified
visa regime
introduced
by the
Indian side
in November,
2014 under
which
nationals of
Russia will
be granted
electronic
visa on
arrival at
designated
airports in
India. Both
sides agreed
to further
ease visa
requirements
for mutual
travels of
certain
categories
of citizens
of the two
countries,
including
business
visas. This
will further
enhance
people-to-people
contacts and
boost
tourism.
Bilateral
perspectives
35.
The
discussions
and
decisions of
the two
leaders, as
well as the
detailed
agreements
at the
bilateral
dialogue
have given
the leaders
the
confidence
that
objective
political,
economic,
security and
cultural
factors will
propel
India-Russia
partnership
to a level
that meets
the
aspirations
of their
people. The
relationship
between
India and
Russia has
been tested
by time and
will
continue to
be a
friendship
based on
complete
trust that
will bring
happiness
and
prosperity
to peoples
of both
countries.
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