MOSCOW: India and Russia on Tuesday underscored the need to ensure stability in Eurasia and the world and favoured creation of a just and fair world order based on international law, principles of mutual respect and each other's interest. Both sides also stressed that all issues should be addressed through dialogue without any interference or show of authority.

This was one of the central themes of talks President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had with Russian President Vladmir Putin at the Kremlin.

"All issues that come up between large and small countries should be addressed through dialogue without dictatorship and outside interference,'' Mr. Putin told at a news conference he addressed together with Mr. Kalam.

Ties in energy, S&T

Expanding cooperation in the fields of energy and science and technology and providing thrust to increase the volume of trade also figured prominently in the talks. Energy cooperation between the two countries that had acquired special focus during the visit of Mr. Kalam came in for special mention in the form of the $2 billion Indian investment in the Sakhalin oil project and supply of Russian nuclear reactor for the 2000 MW Kudankulam power project.

Dynamic ties

Describing India as a key partner in Asia-Pacific region, Mr. Putin said Russia was interested in enhancing the level and scope of cooperation and interaction with the country. He said both he and Mr. Kalam shared the view that relations between the two countries were becoming more dynamic in terms of economic cooperation and other fields.

Mr. Kalam was received by Mr. Putin at the majestic St. George's Hall. The two Presidents met separately for 40 minutes and later participated in delegation-level talks that discussed issues of mutual interest, expanding cooperation also in the fields of space, transportation and metallurgy.

On his part, Mr. Kalam said New Delhi and Moscow could consider cooperation to build and launch a world student satellite that could be put to use for disaster management and also networking student community in the world. The President said he had also made this suggestion during his interaction with academicians at the Moscow State University on Monday. The focus once again was on the lab-to-lab and scientist-to scientist cooperation in frontier science. Mr. Kalam said he told Mr. Putin that the business and trade between the two countries need to gain high level with a target of $25 billion over the next few years from its present level of $3 billion.

Joint projects

Briefing correspondents on the delegation-level talks, the Secretary (East), Rajeev Sikri, said it was felt that the debt India owed to Russia could be used for joint projects. Cooperation in the field of Information Technology was stressed with New Delhi offering to set up an IT park in Moscow. The Minister of State for Science and Technology was expected to visit here in due course.

Mr. Putin said greater attention could be paid for cultural exchanges by perhaps separating education and science activities. Mr. Putin later hosted a banquet in honour of Mr. Kalam.

"The India-Russia partnership has contributed to international peace and security. Indeed, the time has arrived to ensure an enduring and long lasting joint responsibility of peace at large...Our economic prosperity and mutual interest depend upon close partnerships in trade, investment, joint research and development taking full advantages of opportunities in an increasingly inter-connected and globalised word,'' Mr. Kalam said at the banquet. He also stressed on mutual interest in exploiting opportunities in the fields of Information and Communication technologies, biotechnology, electronics, banking and financial services that remained relatively uncharted territory in bilateral relations.

Earlier, Mr. Kalam laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Kremlin Wall. The President departs for St. Petersburg on Wednesday morning en route to Geneva, Switzerland for the second leg of his four-nation tour.

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