Moscow, Dec 6 (IANS) A red carpet welcome was accorded to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he arrived amid freezing temperatures in the Russian capital Sunday for a three-day visit that is expected to boost bilateral ties.
Manmohan Singh, attired in a black overcoat, landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo II Airport and was greeted by a Russian band playing the Indian as well as Russian national anthems.

A flurry of snowfall and high velocity winds lashed the Russian capital as the Indian entourage arrived, with the temperature touching minus 5 degrees Celsius.

The two nations are expected to sign an expanded civil nuclear cooperation deal and three key defence pacts during Manmohan Singh’s visit.

Besides civil nuclear cooperation, terrorism and the volatile situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan will figure prominently in the discussions between the two leaders.

Manmohan Singh will meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as well as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during whose presidency the strategic partnership between India and Russia got a boost in 2000.

Manmohan Singh and Putin will also meet members of the India-Russia CEO’s Council in a bid to give a boost to lacklustre trade ties between the two partners.