Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and President Vladimir Putin

NEW DELHI: In a big boost for the country's clean energy requirements, India and Russia on Thursday signed an agreement for setting up of Units 5 and 6 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu .

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin inked five pacts on wide ranging issues like trade, technology and regional cooperation, but the deal to build the last two units of India's largest nuclear power plant is the highlight of the annual summit.

Addressing a joint press conference, the two leaders reaffirmed the close ties between India and Russia and their desire for further cooperation in the power and energy sector.

"Economies of India and Russia complement each other in energy sector. We will strive to build an “Energy Bridge” between our states. We welcome conclusion of General Framework Agreement and Credit Protocol for Units 5 and 6 of Kudankulam Nuclear Plant," PM Modi said.

The reactors will be built by India's Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Russia's Atomstroyexport company, a subsidiary of Rosatom, the regulatory body of the Russian nuclear complex. Each of the two units will have a capacity to produce 1,000 MW of power.

A document titled 'A vision for the 21st Century' issued at the summit said the future of Indian-Russian cooperation holds great promise across a wide spectrum covering nuclear power, nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear science and technology.

The growing partnership in the nuclear power sector between India and Russia has opened opportunities for developing advanced nuclear manufacturing capabilities in India in line with India's "Make In India" initiative, the declaration said.

The two countries also said that there has been a "steady and demonstrable" achievements in bilateral civil nuclear partnership, including advancing nuclear power projects at the Kudankulam site and transforming it into one of India's largest energy hubs.

'Upgrade and Intensify' defence cooperation

India and Russia also decided to "upgrade and intensify" bilateral defence cooperation through joint manufacture, co-production and co-development of key military hardware and equipment.

The two countries said bilateral defence cooperation is built on strong mutual trust and it will grow further.

"We will work towards a qualitatively higher level of military-to-military cooperation. We will continue holding regular joint land and sea military exercise, and training in each others' military institutions," the vision document said.

The two countries will hold first ever tri-services exercise 'Indra' later this year.

'Stop cross-border movement of terrorists'

The joint statement also exhorted all countries to decide on a collective response without "double standards and selectivity" to combat the threat of terrorism.

"We are convinced that the unprecedented spread of this threat requires decisive collective response on part of the entire global community, without double standards and selectivity, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter," the statement said.

India and Russia asserted that they will continue efforts to combat international terrorism, which poses a great threat to the maintenance of peace and security.

(With inputs from PTI)

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