PM holds talks with Putin

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday held talks with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin on bilateral, regional and international issues.

The Indian delegation included External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, National Security Advisor J N Dixit and Foreign Secretary Shyam Sharan.

The two sides are expected to come out with a joint declaration later in the day.

They will sign an agreement under which India will join the Global Satellite Navigation System promoted by Russia, sources said.

An agreement exempting holders of diplomatic and official passports from visa requirements will be inked, the sources said, adding that the two sides are in the final stages of working out an accord for liberalising and facilitating business and tourist visas.

The president arrived in New Delhi early on Friday on a three-day visit.