Monday, August 15 2005 18:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Moscow: Russia values its friendship and creative co-operation with India and hopes that it will deepen in future, President Vladimir Putin said greeting Indian leaders on the 59th Independence Day today (Aug 15, 2005).

"Russia values the relations of friendship and creative co-operation with India, which are dynamically developing on the principles of strategic partnership and mutual benefit," Putin wrote in his messages to President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Putin expressed confidence that multi-faceted Russian - Indian interaction would continue to further deepen for the benefit of the two nations and in the interests of ensuring stability and security in the world, a Kremlin release said.

"Russia and India are united by the proximity of their national interests, commitment to the ideals of peace and progress, which form the reliable foundation for the strengthening relations of strategic partnership," the President said.