Phuket (Thailand), July 23 : India on Thursday stated that it values its time-tested and purposeful relations with Russia, as the two sides decided to upgrade their strategic partnership.

Holding a meeting in Phuket on the sidelines of the ASEAN ministerial meeting, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, reviewed the status of bilateral relations.

Both leaders also discussed issues related to their upcoming annual bilateral summit.

Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry N Ravi informed the media after the meeting that Krishna told Lavrov that “India values its time-tested and purposeful relations with Russia.”

The statement holds significance as it comes only two days after India decided on a series of measures to upgrade ties with the U. S., especially in the fields of defence and science and technology.

Ravi informed that both leaders had discussed ways to enhance strategic cooperation by seizing new opportunities,

Indian and Russian Foreign Ministers also discussed aspects related to the Brazil-Russia-India-China, BRIC forum, whose next Summit would be held in India. (ANI)