New Delhi: India and Russia will enhance their civil nuclear cooperation, sign crucial pacts in strategic areas of defence and space and impart a new vitality to their lukewarm trade ties during Russian President Valdimir Putin's two-day visit to Indiathat begins Thursday. 

Putin, who has put Russia back into the reckoning as a major economic player riding on the crest of a booming oil economy, will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations  an honour that will signal an affirmation of close and time-tested ties between the two countries.
 

A clutch of agreements on setting up a joint venture in the energy sector, the purchase of a new generation MiG aircraft, the joint production of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) and close cooperation in civilian space sector, including joint launch of satellites, and establishing a centre for technology transfer are expected to be signed during Putin's visit.
 

Eight-10 agreements are expected to be signed, official sources said.
 

The two sides will also discuss ways and means to more than triple bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2010. A relaxation of the visa regime will be discussed to facilitate the easier movement of executives between the two sides. 

Manmohan Singh and Putin, who will be accompanied by a large business delegation, will hold talks Thursday to reinvigorate multi-faceted ties in areas ranging from business, defence and energy to space and civil nuclear cooperation.

They will also discuss Iran's nuclear impasse, North Korean nuclear tests and the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan as well as its impact on the region's security, official sources said.
 

From India's point of view, enhancing civil nuclear cooperation with Russia, which is involved with building nuclear reactors in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, will top the agenda.

Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko has already arrived in Mumbai. He will go to Kudankulam.
 

A joint political declaration and a joint statement on continuation of civilian nuclear cooperation, under which Russia will build four more additional nuclear power units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, after the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifts its curbs, are expected at the end of summit between Manmohan Singh and Putin.
 

Accelerating bilateral cooperation in hydrocarbon sector will get high priority. India has invested $2 billion in Sakhalin-I oil block in Russia where ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of the national oil major, holds a 20 percent stake. India received the first shipment of oil from the Sakhalin-I in December.
 

The two countries are also planning to develop oil reserves in the Bay of Bengal.

In space sector, the two countries are expected to sign an agreement on GLONASS - a global satellite-based navigation system touted as an alternative to the GPS system. They will discuss the nitty-gritty of jointly launching satellites.
 

Crucial military deals are likely to be signed. Russian Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov is in Mumbai talking to representatives of the defence industry. He arrives here Wednesday to meet his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony.
 

The two sides will step up discussions on the purchase of a fifth generation fighter aircraft that could be a competitor to the F-35 being developed jointly by the US, Britain and other countries.