External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to visit Russia next week

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will leave for Moscow on October 19 on a three-day visit to participate in the annual India-Russia Inter- Governmental Commission meeting in which both sides will deliberate on strategic issues besides energy and trade.

The 21st round of inter-governmental meet, to be co- chaired by the External Affairs Minister and her Russian counterpart Dmitry Rogozin, will take stock of the entire gamut of ties between the two time-tested partners.

The talks are likely to focus on ways to expand cooperation in trade and investment, particularly in the energy sector including nuclear power.

Enhancing trade and economic cooperation is a key priority for the two governments.

The two countries have set a target of USD 30 billion bilateral trade by 2025. Bilateral trade during in 2014 amounted to $9.51 billion, with Indian export touching $3.17 billion and imports from Russia $6.34 billion.

Russia is an important partner for India in peaceful uses of nuclear energy.