India rightfully enjoys high authority in world: Dmitry Medvedev

MOSCOW: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday lauded the "impressive tempo" of India's development after independence, saying it rightfully enjoys high authority in the world.

"Keeping intact its national identity and unique, many centuries long traditions, your nation is demonstrating impressive tempo of social-economic growth, scientific, technical, cultural and humanitarian growth," Medvedev wrote in his greeting message to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the 65th Independence Day.

He noted that India "rightfully" enjoys high authority in the world and actively contributes in maintaining security and stability in Asia and the world as a whole.

"We highly value the privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India, based on long friendship of our people, substantive political dialogue distinguished by its constructive character and mutual trust, common stands on key issues of international agenda," Medvedev wrote to the Indian leaders.

Medvedev expressed hope that the Moscow summit later this year will become a major milestone in further development of bilateral relations, which have a significant potential of growth in many areas including trade, military-technical cooperation, science and culture, a Kremlin release stated.