Putin to focus on economic ties on trip to India

NEW DELHI (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is in India for talks intended to help cement Russia's position in the growing Indian market and reinvigorate political ties.

Following meetings Monday between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Moscow and New Delhi are expected to sign agreements on trade, science, education and law enforcement.

While the volume of Russian-Indian trade has risen sixfold since 2000 and is expected to reach $10 billion this year, the growth has slowed in recent years. And even though India remains the No. 1 customer for Russia's arms industries, Moscow has recently lost several multibillion-dollar contracts to Western weapons makers.

Russia and India have shared close ties since the Cold War, when Moscow was a key ally and the principal arms supplier to New Delhi.