Putin, Modi hail nations' 'partnership'

New Delhi eyes major deals, but there's no progress on purchase of top missile systems

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the "partnership" between their two nations on Thursday as they oversaw the signing of energy and other deals.

However no progress was announced on an anticipated purchase of S-400 missile systems, Russia's top-of-the-line anti-aircraft defense.

"I see in Russia a prominent partner in India's economic transformation," Modi said after the leaders agreed to ease the visa requirements between the two nations that are part of the BRICS group of leading emerging market countries.

They also oversaw the signing of several agreements involving Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom and railway monopoly Russian Railways, among others.

India wants Moscow to take part in infrastructure projects as the Modi government seeks to overhaul the country's railway network and build nuclear energy plants to meet the growing electricity needs for its economy.

The two countries agreed on the location of a new Russian nuclear energy plant in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Modi said that Moscow and Delhi would also jointly produce Kamov-226 military helicopters as part of the Make in India initiative to have foreign companies manufacture their products in India.

Silent on S-400

Putin called Russia's ties with India a "privileged strategic partnership", praising the two nations' energy and defense cooperation. He said Russia would build at least six new nuclear power units in India in the next 20 years.

However the two leaders were silent about the S-400, although India's top acquisition body was reported to have cleared the purchase of the air defense system ahead of Modi's trip.

On Thursday, Indian firm Reliance Defense said it would work with the Russian manufacturer of the S-400 "on the entire range of air defense missile and radar systems" that India needs.

But it was not immediately clear whether the two companies were close to a final deal on the missiles and the two leaders did not take any questions from reporters in Moscow.

Russian business daily Kommersant said this week that Putin's one-on-one talks with Modi would decide the fate of the deal as the two still needed to sort out pricing disagreements.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviews an honor guard during a wreath-laying ceremony on Thursday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. Yuri Kochetkov / Reuters