Russia welcomes India's decision to set up Global Centre for Nuclear Energy

New Delhi, Dec 21 (ANI): Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday welcomed India's decision to set up a Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership here and agreed to discuss future cooperation with this Centre.

In a joint communiqui issued after bilateral discussions at Hyderabad House here, both sides also agreed to consider cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with third countries.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress in bilateral cooperation in the nuclear energy sector and looked forward to further broadening and strengthening ties in this area.

They reviewed the progress that has been made for the commissioning of Units 1 and 2 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project and the discussions for setting up additional units at Kudankulam including Units 3 and 4.

India and the Russian Federation also agreed on the need for collaboration in scientific research in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Both sides agreed on the need for all states possessing nuclear weapons to accelerate concrete progress on the steps leading to global nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability, peace and undiminished and increased security for all.

Both sides are interested in strengthening multilateral export control regimes as an important component of the global non-proliferation regime.

India underscored its determination to actively contribute to international efforts aimed at strengthening nuclear non-proliferation regime.

While recognizing the inherent right of states to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, both sides stressed the need for all states to comply with their respective obligations on non-proliferation.

They support the central role of the IAEA and its safeguards system in the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in accordance with its statute.

Both sides intended to support international efforts aimed at promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy as part of a proliferation-resistant architecture of international cooperation, based on strict implementation of non-proliferation obligations. (ANI)