Russia-India to further strengthen strategic partnership: Putin

Moscow, July 26 (UNI) President Vladimir Putin has expressed the confidence that the strategic partnership between Russia and India will be strengthened further, in the near future.

''I am convinced that through our joint efforts, we will continue sucessful realisation of the course for strengthening of strategic partnership, development of multifaceted and fruitful Russian-Indian interaction,'' Putin said in a message of greetings to Mrs Pratibha Patil, on assuming the President's office, the Kremlin press service reported today.

''We cherish the time-tested relations of friendship and trust developed between our two countries,'' it said.

''You are well-known as an experienced politician and a leading social figure, actively following the political traditions of Nehru-Gandhi family,'' the Russian leader said.

''I am confident that holding of year-long Festival of Russia in India in 2008 and Festival of India in Russia in 2009, will greatly contribute towards these aims,'' he added.

UNI