Russia hopes for enhanced cooperation with India under Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Russia has good relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hopes cooperation between the two countries, particularly in defence and nuclear cooperation, will succeed during his tenure.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitryi Rogozin, the pointsman on India relations in Moscow, is expected to visit India this month to hold talks with new leadership in India.

"We have good very cooperation and cohesion with the new Prime Minister. We never introduced any black list (many western countries including the US and EU block had refused Modi a visa over the 2002 Gujarat riots).

"He (Modi) had three successful visits to Russia. On that level we do not see any problem. With his energy and more focused attitude to cooperation projects, they will no doubt succeed," Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin said.

He said that Russia had far reaching plans in energy sector and wanted to build 14 to 16 nuclear reactors and is looking forward for better cooperation in the field of defence cooperation including the fifth generation fighter aircraft.

Asked whether Russia was keen on leasing out Akula class submarine, Kadakin said that it had not received any formal request from India.