Russia cherishes strategic partnership with India: Putin

Moscow, Dec 11 (UNI) President Vladimir Putin today said Russia cherishes strategic partnership with India.

"We cherish the strategic partnership with India," Mr Putin said while accepting the credentials in the Kremlin from Indian ambassador to Moscow, Prabhat Shukla, along with other seven foreign ambassadors.

"India is one of the centres of economic progress and influence in an emerging multipolar world," he said.

"We are united by convergence in our global interests and our common responsibility for maintaining international security and stability," Mr Putin added, pointing out that he highly valued the outcome of the recent visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Moscow.

He also expressed the confidence that the reciprocal ''Year of Russia in India'' and ''Year of India in Russia'' will further strengthen the bilateral cooperation.

The President also said Russia's foreign policy will continue after the presidential election in early March.

"I am sure, our country will continue its coherent course towards consolidating a multilateral diplomacy and the legal foundations of international relations, and a fair solution of key international problems," he said.

UNI