Moscow: Extending his New Year greetings to Indian leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope that his forthcoming visit to New Delhi will spur progress in bilateral relations and outline largescale goals for the future.

Putin will be the guest of honour during India's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi and hold parleys with President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In his New Year greetings to President Kalam, Putin said a bilateral strategic partnership between India and Russia has been developing successfully and expressed hope that new heights will be attained in political, trade, economic, research, technological and cultural cooperation during his forthcoming New Delhi visit

" In a separate message to Prime Minister Singh, Putin noted that efforts by both the countries have strengthened their strategic partnership, and expressed the hope that his forthcoming visit to New Delhi will spur progress in bilateral relations and outline new large-scale goals for the future," according to sources.