India Russia ink 16 agreements across various sectors

Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded a whistle-stop, one day tour today during which more than a dozen agreements were signed in a wide array of fields, from energy to defence to diamonds. Zakka Jacob explains why this summit was important to re-affirm India's long-standing partnership with Russia at a time when Moscow is getting close to both Beijing and Islamabad.

Two of the most powerful men of 2014 walking into Hyderabad House Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin chaired the 15th annual India Russia summit in which as many as 16 agreements were signed. The agreements cover a wide range of topics, from nuclear energy to defence.

The running theme of the 15th India Russia summit has been the Make in India campaign with Russia agreeing to manufacture the advanced reconnaissance and surveillance chopper the Kamov 226 T exclusively in India. The prime minister called Russia India's most important defence partner.

Narendra Modi, Prime minister India, said, "The character of global politics and international relations is changing. Russia has been India's foremost defence partner through decades." The other big theme of the summit was nuclear energy. The Russian built Kudankulam 1 is already operational. Both sides are on course for the next three reactors which will add a thousand mega watts each. State-owned Rosatom will build 12 nuclear reactors. The Russian President set an ambitious goal, his country is committing to build twenty more nuclear reactors in India.