New Delhi, Sept 11 (KNS): Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday on a three-day visit to attend the BRICS Summit and held key bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the two sides discussing ways to expand cooperation in trade, defence, energy, nuclear power and critical minerals.

Putin's visit comes amid efforts by India and Russia to further strengthen their longstanding strategic partnership.

During the talks, the two leaders discussed an agenda aimed at increasing bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030, sources said.

The discussions included expanding industrial cooperation, improving access for Indian exporters to the Russian market, collaboration in railways and tunnelling, and development of steel value chains, they said.

Defence cooperation was also a key focus of the talks, while the two sides reviewed ways to further deepen their partnership in the energy sector.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

India and Russia are also expected to advance discussions on civil nuclear cooperation, including new nuclear reactor projects, fuel-cycle cooperation and lifecycle support, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The two sides also explored greater cooperation in critical minerals, with a focus on identifying new opportunities to meet the industrial requirements of both countries.

Modi and Putin had met last week on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.

During that meeting, Modi had conveyed India's position that the conflict should end at the earliest and stressed the need to move from a situation of unending war towards an end to the conflict.

Putin is scheduled to participate in the BRICS Summit during his stay in India.(KNS)