India attaches high importance to partnership with Russia: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday that India attaches very high importance to the "time-tested" and special strategic partnership with Russia.

While receiving visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin here.Modi said he looked forward to Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi in December for the annual summit, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

He said Putin's visit would provide an opportunity to take forward the bilateral relations to a new level.

India and Russia Wednesday also held their 20th Inter- Governmental Commission Meeting here, which was focused on cooperation in energy, defense and civil nuclear power.

The meeting, co-chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rogozin, was held as a "precursor" and would lay ground for a summit meeting in early December between Modi and Putin, said Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

The two countries are expected to finalize the details of the joint "economic vision" package that will be unveiled when Putin visits India next month, said Indian officials.

Bilateral trade stood at 6 billion U.S. dollars in 2013-14 fiscal year ending March this year, far behind the target of 15 billion U.S. dollars by 2015 as was set by the governments of the two countries.

India is seeking to reach a free trade agreement with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus that have a customs union.

Local media said the two countries are considering a new joint venture on the lines of the Sakhalin-1 gas fields where India has a 20 percent share.