Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday met Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry O Rogozin here and held extensive talks on crucial bilateral issues including trade and energy security.
This was the first high-level contact established by Russia with the new Indian government.
The duo also deliberated on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Both Swaraj and Rogozin, who arrived here early today, are understood to have discussed about preparations for the annual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled during the course of the year.
Issues relating to economic cooperation, energy security and the deal for the third and fourth reactors of Kudankulam power plant figured in the talks.
Russia has in-principle agreed to the Indian nuclear liability law, paving the way for signing a contract for unit 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP).
Two units of KNPP have been set up by Russia in Tamil Nadu and the first unit has already been made operational.
India and Russia signed a general framework agreement on unit 3 and 4 in April this year after crossing the initial hurdles of the Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act 2010.
Rogozin`s meeting comes days after the US and China established their first high-level contact with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Putin had called up Prime Minister Modi to congratulate him after his government came to power.
The meeting between Rogozin and Sushma Swaraj is their first interaction.
Rogozin will be in India June 18-19.
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister will call on the Prime Minister on Thursday. He is also scheduled to meet Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
During his talks with the Indian leaders, defence, trade, nuclear energy and space cooperation are likely to be on the table.
Rogozin co-chairs the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation. He is a close confidant of President Putin.
The Indian government had last week intervened to help injured Russian tourists in Uttarakhand. A group of 13 Russians were injured when their vehicle met with an accident. Two Russians were killed, and the government had helped in flying the gravely injured people to New Delhi for treatment.
(With Agency inputs)
