Describing Russia [Images] as India's 'time-tested' friend, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] on Monday highlighted the need for further advancing strategic bilateral ties during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin [Images] at the Kremlin.

"Russia is our time-tested friend and the people of all walks of life in India see Russia as our friend and recognise the strategic importance of our ties with it," the prime minister, who is on a three-day visit to Moscow [Images], told Putin during their one-to-one meeting.

The Russian president thanked him for attending the 60th anniversary celebrations of victory of Allied forces over Nazi Germany [Images] in World War II.

"Thank you once more, that you are celebrating with us our great holiday -- victory in the Great Patriotic War," Putin said in his opening remarks.

The Kremlin attaches considerable significance to Dr Singh's visit, which builds on the achievements during Putin's trip to India last year and provides a new opportunity for the two sides to review the current state of Indo-Russian cooperation and set the guidelines for their further development.

"The Russian side highly values the intensive and trustful dialogue with India, which reflects the mutual readiness of Moscow and New Delhi to further strengthen and expand their strategic partnership," a Kremlin official said.  

Observing that India attached great importance to its close relations with Russia, Dr Singh said New Delhi desired to further consolidate the bilateral ties.

This is the second meeting of the two leaders in six months after Putin's visit to Delhi last December.

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