India, Russia to sign more than 15 pacts during Medvedev visit

New Delhi, Dec. 17 (ANI): India and Russia are expected to sign more than fifteen agreements during President Dmitry Medvedev's three day visit to India.

Medvedev will arrive in New Delhi on Monday night.

India and Russia are expected to ink a pact for the joint designing of fifth generation fighter aircraft. According to a draft of the pact, Russia will share its technology with India, and both countries will design the aircraft jointly.

India and Russia are also expected to ink an agreement on scientific cooperation to extend the existing framework by another decade.

A bilateral agreement to offer signals from the Glanost Satellite is currently under negotiation.

President Medvedev is also expected to reiterate Moscow commitment to supporting India's bid for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.

"Our position is all along clear. As Foreign Minister (Sergei Lavrov) said, the whole world will benefit if India becomes the permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. I am surprised why the world is taking so long to realise it," said Russian Ambassador to India, Alexander Kadakin.

"We have been saying this for the last two decades," Kadakin added.

India and Russia are also expected to release a joint statement after the conclusion of delegation-level talks.

Ambassador Kadakin said that officials of both sides are working on a serious and concentrated document that could define the next steps in the Indo-Russian strategic partnership, both at the bilateral and at the multilateral levels.

India's interest in participating in the Sakhalin 3 gas exploration project is also likely to be figure in discussions.

Representatives of the India and Russian business councils and the Indo-Russian CEOs Forum are scheduled to have meetings on the sidelines of the summit on Monday and Tuesday.

Medvedev will also meet a cross-section of the Indian leadership on Tuesday. He will also attend a state banquets organized in his honour by Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

On Wednesday, Medvedev is expected to visit Agra and Mumbai. In Mumbai, he will pay homage to the memory of the victims who died in the 26/11 terror attacks. (ANI)