"Regardless of my office, when I come to India I always feel that India has been our strategic partner for many decades. Although this reflects the mutual sympathies of Russian and Indian nations, it primarily highlights our virtually coinciding geopolitical interests".
While talking with Sonia Gandhi, Mr Putin noted the great role the Gandhi family had played in developing the relationship between Russia and India.
“This is my fifth visit to India, and with each visit I become more convinced that relations between our nations are unique. I do not think Mr Manmohan Singh and I would have attained the present level of mutual trust, understanding and cooperation without the compassionate, friendly relations between the Indian and Russian peoples,” said the Russian Prime Minister, summarising his visit to India.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak has chaired a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Preparation and Hosting of the XXII Olympic Games and XI Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi in 2014 and the XXVII Summer Student Games in Kazan in 2013. The commission is overseen by the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness, Sports, Professional Sports and Preparations for the XXII Winter Olympic Games and XI Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi in 2014 and the XXVII Summer Student Games in Kazan in 2013.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Alexander Neradko, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency
During the meeting Mr Putin and Mr Neradko discussed new federal rules for the use of Russian air space.
Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said during the welding ceremony that the pipeline extension was an essential and logical continuation of the mainline and will make it possible to transport oil from the promising deposits of Eastern Siberia and the Pacific region, in which almost all big Russian oil companies operate.