NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew to Russia today on a visit to strengthen ties between the two long-time allies and finalise a deal to expand cooperation on nuclear energy.

Singh’s two-day trip, his sixth to Russia as prime minister since 2004, was also designed to firm up defence deals that have been hit by delays in delivery, the Press Trust of India news agency said. Singh will hold talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as part of an annual leadership meeting between the two countries which forged a strategic partnership deal in 2000, officials said.

“This is a partnership based on the solid foundation of long-standing friendship, deep mutual trust and strong convergence of interests,” Singh said in a statement before leaving. Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said India and Russia were trying to put together an agreement that would broaden a nuclear fuel import pact.

“Negotiations are at an advanced stage and we hope to sign it during the visit,” Rao told reporters on Saturday.

The pact would guarantee unhindered supply of uranium for Indian reactors and the right to reprocess spent fuel, PTI quoted unnamed officials as saying. Russia is already building two nuclear power units in Tamil Nadu and has agreed to install four more nuclear reactors there as part of an agreement signed during Medvedev’s visit to India last year. Rao said Singh would try to resolve hiccups over deliveries and pricing of military hardware from Russia, which accounts for 70 per cent of Indian defence products.

India’s plans to acquire a retired Soviet aircraft carrier five years ago have turned into a headache with Moscow now demanding 1.2 billion dollars in addition to 1.5 billion dollars it sought

in 2004 to refit the ageing vessel. “The matter is under active discussion in an

atmosphere of cooperation,” Rao said. “We hope to

work for a mutually satisfactory solution.”