Sunday, May 8 2005 11:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Terming Russia as a "tried and tested friend" of India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (May 8, 2005) said his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin would aim at further consolidating relations of strategic partnership between the two countries.

"We attach the highest importance to our relations with Russia, which has been a tried and tested friend and has stood by us in times of need," he said before embarking on a three-day visit to Moscow

The Prime Minister, who will attend celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the victory of Soviet forces over Germany during the Second World War, said he was looking forward to his meeting with Putin.

The discussions would aim at building upon the successful visit of Putin to India in December last year (2004) and further consolidating relations of strategic partnership between the two countries.

"The high momentum that characterise our relations will be further demonstrated by the fact that President A P J Abdul Kalam will be paying a State visit to Moscow later this month," the Prime Minister said in a departure statement.

Observing that India would be present along with several other important countries at the commemorative event in Moscow, Singh said he hoped to use this opportunity to have meetings with a number of leaders, including Presidents of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Romania.