PM’s Russia visit to conclude with assured economic cooperation

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Russia for the 14th annual Indo-Russian summit concluded in Moscow on Monday (20.10.2013-21.10.2013) with the sides agreeing to step up economic cooperation, including moving towards an economic partnership agreement with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. The countries failed to reach an agreement on Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project’s 3rd and 4th units. However, Russia and India “agreed to expeditiously finalise the General Framework Agreement and the Techno-Commercial Offer for Units- 3 & 4 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant,” they said in a joint statement issued at the end of the talks. The countries said they discussed priority areas of bilateral cooperation and noted common positions on current international and regional issues. Both sides stressed their continued commitment to promote and strengthen their special and privileged strategic partnership. The countries have signed five bilateral documents details of which are as below: Treaty between the Republic of India and the Russian Federation on Transfer of Sentenced Persons:The Treaty shall facilitate the process of social rehabilitation of persons sentenced in the other country by providing them the opportunity to serve out their remaining sentences (under certain conditions) in their country of nationality. It is expected to boost consular cooperation between the two countries.  Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Energy Efficiency of the Republic of India and Federal State Budget Organisation "Russian Energy Agency” of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation in the Field of Energy Efficiency:The MoU shall enhance cooperation in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency, including through joint implementation of activities and projects by organisations/companies of both the countries. The forms of cooperation envisaged include exchange of best practices in smart grids, energy audits, energy efficient building designs, industrially efficient technologies, etc.  Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Standardization and Conformity Assessment between Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) [Republic of India] and Federal Agency on Technical Regulation and Metrology (GOST-R) [Russian Federation]:The objective of this MoU is to facilitate closer technical cooperation in the field of standardization through exchange of information, practices and expertise. It is expected to have beneficial effects for trade and commerce where standards/conformity assessments form an integral basis for transactions.  Programme of Cooperation in the Fields of Science, Technology and Innovation between the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and the Ministry of Education & Science, Government of Russian Federation for the period 2014-2017:The Programme aims to deepen cooperation in the field of innovation and S&T through implementation of Joint Programs and projects/exchanges involving educational, R&D and industrial institutions. The joint projects may also facilitate transfer of technology. The broad areas of cooperation include ‘sunrise’ sectors such as IT, nano-technology, environmental sciences and alternate energy. This Programme shall also reinforce the existing robust exchanges between the scientific institutions of the two sides.  Programme of Cooperation in the Area of Biotechnology between the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Education and Science, Government of Russian Federation for the period 2014-2017:The Programme aims to broaden cooperation in the field of biotechnology and encourage industrial R&D & related investment flows. This is intended to be achieved through implementation of Joint Programs and projects/exchanges, etc. What: PM’s tour to Russia concluded When: 22nd October 2013