India among Russia's vital strategic partners

Russia never puts to doubt India's role as one of its key strategic partners. It goes without saying, Alexander Losyukov stressed in an interview with leading Indian-based media outlets - the daily Hindu and the PTI news agency.

Among essential aspects of bilateral contacts, Russia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted regular coordination of stances and blueprinting joint responses to the evolving global, regional and national dangers and challenges.

Joint naval exercises have come up as a stride toward an ever-closer strategic alliance, said Mr. Losyukov as he highly evaluated bilateral security partnership.

In a forthcoming visit of Igor Ivanov, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, to New Delhi, major attention will belong to progress of Russo-Sino-Indian contacts, cooperation with the ASEAN, Afghanistan's shift to peacetime arrangements, and developments in the Korean peninsula.

As he went over to bilateral trade and other economic ties, Alexander Losyukov called to change their entire structure, boost commerce, and upgrade commodities.

Russia is eager to enhance the share of high tech produce in civil-oriented commerce. Meanwhile, it is largely within the boundaries of military technological commerce, remarked the vice-minister.