New Delhi, Dec 03: Carrying forward the new momentum in bilateral ties, Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive here on a three-day state visit today.

The discussions of the Russian President with the Indian leadership will cover the entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest, an external affairs ministry spokesman told reporters today.
He said that several documents are expected to be signed during the visit, covering various sectors of the wide-ranging bilateral relations. "These documents will further strengthen the politico-legal basis of their bilateral cooperation," he said.

Putin is undertaking the visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as part of their decision to hold annual summit meetings to carry forward their bilateral political dialogue.

While the Russian President had visited India in October 2000, Vajpayee paid a state visit to the Russian federation in November last year.
The spokesman said that relations between India and Russia were marked by "continuity, trust and mutual understanding" and added that bilateral cooperation was multifaceted and encompassed political consultations, trade and economic interaction in important sectors like power, steel, oil, coal and information technology, science and technology, culture, space, atomic energy and defence.

Bureau Report