NEW DELHI: Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov met his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee here Wednesday (Dec 1) to discuss steps to boost defence cooperation, including the joint development of hardware and military exercises.

Ivanov arrived here Tuesday for a meeting of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit beginning Friday (Dec 3).

The defence ministers of India and Russia are expected to sign a protocol on defence cooperation Thursday (Dec 2), a defence ministry spokesman said without giving details.

However, it is believed that Ivanov raised Russia's demand that India should sign an agreement on protecting sensitive defence and military-related intellectual property rights during Wednesday's meeting with Mukherjee.

Before his departure from Moscow, Ivanov had told reporters that Russia would not move further in sharing sophisticated military technologies with India unless the latter signed the agreement.

Military experts have said Russian leaders were peeved as India had signed a similar agreement on protecting defence-related intellectual property rights with the US though military ties with Russia were more robust and part of a strategic partnership.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ivanov was given a ceremonial guard of honour at the defence headquarters. The three service chiefs, the defence secretary and secretary for defence production called on him.

Mukherjee and Ivanov will continue their talks Thursday and address a joint press conference.

Courtesy Indo-Asian News Service