Russian PM arrives in India on visit

NEW DELHI, (KUNA) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi early Friday morning on a one-day visit, said the Indian government in a press release.

Putin is scheduled to meet Indian President Pratibha Devising Patil, his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, it added.

Putin's visit comes at the invitation of the Indian premier.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said a number of agreements were likely to be signed in areas like energy and fertilizers.

He added that Putin was leading a high-level delegation comprising of several ministers and senior officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov.

Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are also likely to discuss a wide range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi, Joint Secretary (Eurasia) in India's External Affairs Ministry Ajay Bisaria said that India's 60-70 percent defence needs were fulfilled by Russia.

About the long pending deal on the 'Admiral Gorshkov' aircraft career, Bisaria said that "some supplementary agreements on a basic understanding about the deal are likely to be signed during the visit."