Manmohan Singh's summit-level visit to Moscow from 4-6 December 2005 for the sixth Indo-Russian bilateral meet took place exactly 50 years after Jawaharlal Nehru's landmark visit. This visit opens a new leaf in the strategic relationship between the two countries. What are the interests of both countries in this new relationship?

This visit was marked by "warmth, trust and mutual confidence." The crucial fallout of the visit has been in the field of "military-technological" cooperation. In addition, defence ties received an impetus by the announcement to build joint multi-role Medium Range Transport Aircraft (MTA) and the fifth generation aircraft for the armed forces. They agreed to promote cooperation through "joint ventures and equity participation." India wanted to initiate an energy dialogue between experts and policymakers to widen cooperation, which is an important challenge for the 21st century. Russia's position as the world's second largest producer of energy and India's growing demand for energy resources could turn out to be a natural complementarity in this regard. The dialogue between ONGC, GAIL, Rosneft and Gazprom and Transneft is gradually gaining momentum; although concrete results are yet to be seen. Russia welcomed India's interest in participating in the Sakhalin-3 oil project in Siberia and extraction ventures in other regions. Sergei Kirienko, head of Russian Federal Atomic Energy is concerned in securing LEU Supplies for Tarapur, including additional reactors for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Station in Tamil Nadu, which is to be commissioned in 2007-08.

Both countries showed parallel approaches to tackle terrorism. Singh focused on the need for a "strategic partnership in the knowledge-based sectors" and development of human resources in his address to the Academic Council of Moscow State University on 5 December 2005. There has also been a dynamic growth of the Indian and Russian economies that could open up a wide range of opportunities for bilateral trade. At the recently concluded 11th session of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Moscow, India supported Russia's accession to the WTO, which shows their natural areas of synergy. The possibility of cooperation in the IT sector is evident from Putin's visit to Bangalore in November 2004. Both countries have agreed to set up a jointly funded Science and Technology Centre in Moscow to facilitate commercialisation of technologies for mutual benefit.

The visit is a signifier of the importance both countries attach to each other and which is underpinned by a mutuality of interests across a broad spectrum of cooperation. India's national interest demands a deepening of ties with Russia, with focus on a "visionary and outward looking approach". Russia is also looking for India's commitment; specially, to buy its equipment when nuclear commerce opens up. Thus, "Indo-Russian relations are increasingly moving away from buyer-seller relationships to technological co-operation." With such vast resource base and intellectual capital, India and Russia are ready to explore avenues for generating and meeting demands on a regional and global basis. Both share a common objective of creating an international equilibrium based on a just and equitable world order. But in parallel both are also aware that in this 'comprehensive re-engagement' in the changing international climate, the centrality of their respective foreign policy interests must not be disrupted.. This is evident from Russia's shifting obligations as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and its guidelines regarding the nuclear issue. However, Russia is equally aware that it cannot sideline India now. Therefore, despite being cautious, both are seriously concerned about their 'maximum mutual interests and commitments'.

As of now, both countries should focus more on bilateral trade as softening visa restrictions, joint scientific research, and increase academic exchange like higher flow of scientists, young scholars, etc. Emphasis must be in traditional items as tea, tobacco, textiles and leather, gems and jewelry. India is the only country with which Russia has a long-term programme of defence cooperation until 2010, and under this programme, $9 billion worth of contracts have already been signed. This is the optimum time for a new generation of Indians and Russians to rediscover each other.