India and Russia will sign four agreements in the fields of defence and space during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's three-day visit to Russia from December 4.
Ahead of Dr Singh's arrival on Sunday, for his annual summit with President Vladimir Putin, Indian Ambassador to Moscow Kunwal Sibal said the two sides will sign the Intellectual Property Rights on Defence Agreement, Amendment to the Protocol on Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation for the period till 2010, Technology Safeguards Agreement regarding GLONASS and accord on solar physics.
The high-powered delegation of 21 members, accompanying the prime minister, include National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, Principal Secretary T K A Nair, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakokdar and Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman Madhvan Nair.
A 14-member business delegation comprising prominent industrialists from ICCI and FICCI will also accompany him to hold wide-ranging interaction with the senior officials of the Russian Chambers of Commerce and Industry on December 5 at the Baltschug Hotel.
Issues relating to defence, space and energy security will remain high on the agenda of talks at the summit, Sibal said, adding, "This is a vital component of our overall strategic relationship and both sides have interest in strengthening this component."
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