NEW DELHI, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- India and Russia on Friday signed an agreement covering the construction of a new nuclear plant in southern India and a cooperation accord on manned space flight, reported news channel Times Now.

    The new plant, including 4 nuclear energy reactors, is to be built at Kudankulam in south state Tamil Nadu, where Moscow is already building two 1,000-megawatt light water reactors.

    Russia, after United States and France, becomes the third country to sign an atomic energy agreement with India after a decision in September by the Nuclear Suppliers Group to lift its ban on trade of nuclear technology with India.

    The two sides also signed an accord that envisages Russia sending an Indian cosmonaut into space in 2013 and then launch a manned Indian spacecraft in 2015, officials said.

    Visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the agreement with India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Friday.