Vladmir Putin, the Russian President would visit India today for a Summit to be held in New Delhi where he is expected to strengthen the defence ties with our nation. It is also expected that the levels of the bilateral trade going on in the nation would be doubled for the following three years.

The meeting would be a congregation of Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who would be accompanied by several senior ministers and military officials, and Putin.

"I would like to stress that deepening of friendship and cooperation with India is among the top priorities of our foreign policy," a leading Indian daily quoted Putin.

It is to be noted that India is the leading arms importer in the world and almost 70% of our supplies come from Russia.

Unlike a few years ago, the involvement of India with Russia in the development of arms is what would deepen the friendship, and cooperation, both military and technical, between the nations, Putin stressed.

Salman Khurshid, the foreign affairs minister echoed Putin's words saying that India is also looking forward to enhance ties between the two nations.

The bilateral trade from the nation was around $7.5 billion in 2009, and by 2012, the Russians aim to make it $10 billion. The motive of the soviets is to double it in just three years, $20 bn by 2015.

Putin is expected to meet Sonia Gandhi and the leader of the opposition, Sushma Swaraj apart from the talks with Manmohan Singh today.

(AW- Anil)