OREANDA-NEWS  The Indian side at the talks proposed to the Russian Federation the joint creation of non-nuclear icebreakers at Indian shipyards, the head of the Ministry of Eastern Economic Development of the Russian Federation Alexey Chekunkov said in an interview with RIA Novosti at the Eastern Economic Forum.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Minister held talks with the Indian delegation on the sidelines of the WEF.

"This is a continuation of the work that we started in March of this year. At my invitation, the Minister of Ports and Shipping of India came to Russia. It's his first time in Russia. India is interested in training personnel in Arctic navigation. We have made a proposal to jointly create non-nuclear icebreakers at Indian shipyards. We are studying this proposal," the minister said.

According to him, it is necessary to comprehensively approach the whole range of issues that are of strategic interest to the Russian Federation, in particular, the organization of joint shipping, including container lines.

"And for this - the diversification of mutual trade and shipbuilding, because there are many shipyards in India. Our USC has already conducted such negotiations. The leadership has recently changed there, and we will assist in organizing a dialogue between the Indian industry and our shipbuilders," Chekunkov added.

According to him, an agreement was also reached with the Indian side on the formation of a mechanism for a systematic dialogue between India and Russia together with Rosatom Corporation on the topic of Arctic cooperation and the development of the Northern Sea Route.