Russia says it has unprecedented level of cooperation with China; signs deal to build nuclear reactor with India

On February 9, TASS reported that Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov assessed that the close communication activities between the two countries' leaders reflect the highest level of strategic relations and partnership between Moscow and Beijing.

Russia promotes relations with China. (Source: RIA)

In his 2024 Lunar New Year greetings, Ambassador Morgulov shared: “The close communication between the leaders of our two countries fully demonstrates the unprecedented level of the Russia-China comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation entering a new era.”

In another development, on February 8, Russia and India signed a protocol amending the 2008 intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction of additional nuclear reactors at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) site and the construction of Russian-designed nuclear power plants at new sites in India.

The signing ceremony took place between Mr. Alexei Likhachev, General Director of Russian state energy corporation Rosatom and Mr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India at the KKNPP site.

Also here, Rosatom has built two VVER nuclear reactors with a capacity of 1,000 MW and is building four more reactors with similar capacity.

During the two-day visit to India, the Russian delegation inspected the power units under construction in the second and third phases of KKNPP and discussed the long-term cooperation programme.

As a result of the negotiations, an important document was signed within the framework of the joint Russian-Indian project. It is the protocol to the intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the second and third power units of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant since 2008.

“India is our strategic partner,” Likhachev said. “Moscow-New Delhi nuclear cooperation is embedded in the first intergovernmental documents on Russian-designed Indian nuclear power projects signed in the 1980s.

The 10th anniversary of the KKNPP Unit 1 being connected to the grid of the Republic of India was celebrated at the end of last year. Our work continues as part of joint projects in various areas of nuclear energy use and we are optimistic about further development of this cooperation.”

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