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India, Russia sign deal on nuke, space cooperation

by Sanjay Jha | December 5, 2008 at 03:30 am

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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is visiting India bolster its long time ally in the tense time after terror attack in Mumbai. During his visit to New Delhi, On Friday he signed landmark accords on issues ranging from nuclear energy to space. He is the second leader from west to visit South Asia to soothe two hostile neighbours.

Russia becomes the third country to sign an atomic energy agreement with India after a decision in September by the Nuclear Suppliers Group to waive its ban on trade of nuclear technology with India.

The United States and France are the other powers to have signed agreements with New Delhi.

The nuclear agreement covers the building of four atomic reactors at Kudankulam in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The value of the deal was not given.

Moscow is already building two 1,000-megawatt light water reactors at the site.

The two sides also signed an accord that envisages Russia sending an Indian cosmonaut into space in 2013 and then launch a manned Indian spacecraft in 2015, officials said.