Nuclear, defense, oil cooperation to top agenda during Putin visit to India

Russian president Vladimir Putin is due to arrive Wednesday for a high profile two-day visit to India, during which he will discuss with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the strengthening of cooperation in nuclear energy, defense and oil explorations.

In an interview with Indian media ahead of his visit, Putin termed the ties with India as a "privileged strategic partnership".

Putin disclosed Tuesday evening that construction of new nuclear plants besides military and technical cooperation was high on the agenda during his visit to New Delhi, said Press Trust of India.

The visit, the fifth to India by Putin, came amidst a great deal of animosity between Russia and the West over the crisis in Ukraine.

Russian diplomatic sources here said up to 20 agreements are expected to be signed while the highlight of the visit will be the signing of a vision document on Indo-Russia ties.

Roadmap on nuclear energy cooperation, more units in Kudankulam nuclear plant in south India, the granting of rights to ONGC Videsh, India's state oil company to explore Russian oil fields, an agreement on diamond cutting, apart from defense cooperation, will top the agenda of talks between Putin and Modi, according to the sources.