Vladivostok (Russia) (AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave Vladivostok a "new boost" to their economic cooperation by announcing partnerships in nuclear, defense and hydrocarbons.

The two leaders met one-on-one and then with their delegations for negotiations in the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, a great business rally that Russia holds for the fifth year in a row to try to develop its vast Far East.

The Indian Prime Minister said he wants to seize a "historic opportunity" to strengthen ties between the two countries. For Vladimir Putin, this is an opportunity to confirm that he can find partners beyond Western countries, with whom relations are at their lowest.

At the end of the meeting, the two men announced to have brought their relations "to a new level". Moscow and New Delhi intend to manufacture a civil aircraft model together and study the possibility of jointly producing nuclear fuel. They will cooperate in the production and distribution of oil and gas, defense, diamond production and tourism.

Russia has invited India to participate in its liquefied natural gas production projects in the Arctic. The creation of a free trade area is also under discussion, while trade between the two countries reached only $ 11 billion in 2018.

On the political front, the two leaders called for a reform of the UN Security Council to emphasize "multilateralism" on a principle of "non-interference in the internal affairs" of states. They talked about the environment and saving tigers, a theme that is dear to Vladimir Putin, according to Modi.

- "Special chemistry" -

"We sit together and we talk, we walk and we talk, there is a special chemistry, a special lightness in our relationships," he said.

Close to Soviet times, Moscow and New Delhi have undertaken in recent years to revitalize a relationship that had been stretched for 25 years, but their collaboration is still essentially military.

New Delhi's orders to Moscow since last year are estimated at $ 14.5 billion, Russian director of the Russian service for military cooperation Dmitry Shugayev told reporters on Wednesday, hailing a "real breakthrough".

Russia also hopes to finalize a contract for the delivery to India of Ka-226T helicopters, powered by France's Safran, of which 60 are expected to be manufactured in Russia and 140 in India by an Indo-Russian joint venture.

This contract estimated at nearly $ 1 billion between the Russian company Russian Helicopters and the Indian Army was expected in 2018 but still hangs.

"The technical negotiations are over", but the two sides have yet to agree on prices, said Russian Helicopters CEO Andrei Boguinski in Vladivostok, adding that the deal should be finalized "on the ground Indian".

- Weapons and helicopters -

Among the largest arms buyers on the planet, India is a crucial partner for Russia, whose defense sector seeks to maintain its position as second largest seller in the world, despite the sanctions against it since the Ukrainian crisis. 2014.

The Indian army is engaged in a vast effort to modernize its weapons, often obsolete and insufficient to cope with geopolitical changes in the region.

Last October, India and Russia signed New Delhi's acquisition of S-400 air defense systems for $ 5.2 billion. Deliveries must be made by 2023. This transaction took place despite the threat of US sanctions.

"There have been some payment problems (by India) because of the sanctions, but these problems have been solved and mechanisms have been found," said Chugayev.

© 2019 AFP