Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have started talks in the Kremlin.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko are also taking part in the closed-door meeting.

Ahead of his visit to the Russian capital, Singh told Russian media that India is interested in diversifying bilateral relations with Russia and proposes to seek new areas for cooperation, such as in the pharmaceutical and diamond industries, and in bio-, nano- and information technology.

Russia and India have a long history of cooperation in the nuclear and military spheres, and Singh said the two sides should build on that.

The two leaders are also expected to address regional and global issues, particularly the situation in Afghanistan, terrorism, climate change and measures to revive the global economy.

Singh is also expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

MOSCOW, December 7 (RIA Novosti)