The Hindu : National : Natwar Singh, Zhukov hold talks

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Friday, Nov 19, 2004

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National

Natwar Singh, Zhukov hold talks

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 18. The External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, today held talks with the visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Zhukov, as the India-Russia inter-governmental commission on trade and related matters met today.

According to the External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Mr. Zhukov also met the Finance and Commerce Ministers, P. Chidambaram and Kamal Nath. He is scheduled to call on the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on Friday.

The spokesman said a diverse range of issues came up for discussion between the two leaders, including strengthening the trade and economic relationship between India and Russia.

In 2003, two-way trade stood at $1.67 billion, which both sides consider a modest figure.

India, for its part, suggested that tea, textiles, consumer goods, automobile exports and information technology were some of the areas that it would like to focus on.

In the energy sector, the spokesman said that ONGC Videsh had already picked up a 20 per cent stake in Sakhalin-I and the sides were expected to move "further" in this direction.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister proposed that Moscow could cooperate with India in the construction of metro rail projects in different cities, the development of inland waterways, roads and in the energy sector.

A 69-strong business delegation is also accompanying Mr. Zhukov.

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