OREANDA-NEWS. October 21, 2008. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, on October 20 paid an official visit to the Republic of India. Lavrov had thorough talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The head of the Russian MFA was received by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

A broad range of issues of the bilateral, regional and international agenda was discussed, with a special focus on the preparations for an upcoming visit to India by the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev. The sides noted with satisfaction the headway the multifaceted Russia-India strategic partnership has made, primarily in such priority areas as economic and trade cooperation, large-scale joint metallurgy and aircraft manufacturing projects, space research, and the expansion of ties between the business circles of the two countries. The identity or similarity of their positions on pressing international problems was noted, including assessments of the global financial crisis and of exits therefrom through reform and democratization of the international financial system and its mechanisms.

The importance of further increasing practical cooperation via the Russia-India-China triangle and in the BRIC format was reaffirmed.

The Russian and Indian Foreign Ministers also signed a Protocol on Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India for 2009-2010.