Russia to set up above 20 N-power units in next 20 yrs

VLADIVOSTOK: Russia on Wednesday said that it is planning to set up more than 20 nuclear power units in India in the next 20 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Russia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok earlier Wednesday, gave a joint statement at the 20th Annual Summit between the two countries, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin by his side.

The two sides exchanged numerous agreements, including military and technical cooperation, energy and science, LNG Business and LNG supplies, and natural gas, in the presence of the two leaders.

"I'm honoured to be the first-ever Indian Prime Minister to be coming to Vladivostok. I thank my friend, President Putin for inviting me here. I remember Annual Summit of 2001, first one held in Russia when he was President and I had come with former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee's delegation as Gujarat Chief Minister," the Prime Minister said in the joint statement.

The leaders, on the occasion, noted that the friendship between India and Russia is not restricted to their respective capital cities. "We have put people at the core of this relationship," the Prime Minister added.

Meanwhile, Putin, on his part, said that both countries share similar perspectives on specific aspects of international issues.

"Russia and India Wednesday signed MoUs in various sectors, including civil nuclear and LNG. Regarding the Kundakulam nuclear power plant, the first and second units are working. The third and fourth are under construction. Also, we have decided to set up more than 20 Russian-designed nuclear units in India in the next 20 years," Putin said.

"I am also looking forward to meeting the Indian Prime Minister at the 11th BRICS Summit that is scheduled to be held in Brasilia, Brazil," he added.

Meanwhile, a proposal was also made between India and Russia to have a full-fledged maritime route that serves as a link between Chennai and Vladivostok. "We (India and Russia) both are against outside influence in the internal matters of any nation," Modi stressed in an apparent reference to Pakistan's diabolic attempts of internationalizing the Kashmir issue.