New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi early today (Dec 3, 2004) on a three-day visit during which India and Russia will sign several accords, including one on peaceful uses of outer space, aimed at imparting a new impetus to their strategic ties.

Putin, heading a high-level delegation, was warmly received at Delhi airport by Communication and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.

The two sides will come out with a Joint Declaration later in the day after wide-ranging talks Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will have with Putin on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern, official sources said.

The declaration will set out the overall vision of cooperation while spelling out specific areas. The two sides will sign an agreement under which India will join the Global Satellite Navigation System promoted by Russia.

The hallmark of this visit will be on concrete things as also on how to remove "roadblocks" coming in the way of further consolidating bilateral ties, the sources said.

An agreement exempting holders of diplomatic and official passports from visa requirements will be linked, and the two sides were in the final stages of working out an accord for liberalising and facilitating business and tourist visas.

Three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed on banking arrangements in either country. Eight Russian banks have been identified which will have linkages with Indian banks. These include SBI, Canara Bank and ICICI.