In an effort to infuse freshness in their trilateral ties, the Foreign Ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC) held a meeting on Monday where issues pertaining to the three countries and the global challenges like terrorism, drug trafficking, and climate change were discussed at length. Prior to their trilateral talks, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also held bilateral meetings with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar termed the discussion between Sushma and Yi as ‘positive’ and ‘forward looking’ while saying the meeting imparted ‘fresh momentum’ to the bilateral relationship. This was the first high-level visit from China after the Doklam standoff in the Sikkim sector this summer that lasted for 73 days before both sides decided to ‘disengage’.
During her discussion with Yi, Sushma underlined that both India and China have passed through a difficult phase in their relationship and called for developing ties that is based on trust and respecting sensitivities. She conveyed that there were issues where India has its sensitivities and concerns and that should be respected.
Taking forward their relationship to a new level, Sushma asserted that differences between the two countries should not be allowed to define the relationship, and negativity should not become a dominant narrative in their ties.
While indicating that the Chinese side was very positive in its approach, sources said there was a general understanding between Sushma and Yi to move forward and re-energise dialogue mechanism and increase areas of convergence. It is learnt Yi conveyed that the two countries should increase strategic communication for better relationship. There was also an understanding and re-energise various dialogue mechanisms to increase areas of convergence.
“Foreign Minister Wang Yi and I agreed that we should further strengthen our mutual trust to develop a better understanding between the two parties. And it will be better to meet again and without agenda, which will help us expand our mutual understanding,” Sushma said in a media statement after the talks.
Sushma also held a bilateral meeting with Lavrov where there was a detailed discussion on the situation in Middle East and Afghanistan. The two countries are celebrating 70 years of their diplomatic relationship and there was a general satisfaction with regard to trade, military and energy ties. “Foreign Minister Lavrov and I reviewed our bilateral relations and both of us were satisfied that this is the 70th year of establishing diplomatic relations between us and more than 100 programmes were organised in the two countries to commemorate the 70th anniversary. It is well-known that relations between India and Russia are very close and friendly,” Sushma said. There was a general feeling that both Russia and the United States are two important players in the world and for several global issues cooperation between them was critical.
Later at the RIC, the three Ministers deliberated on a variety of issues including challenges of the global economy, increasing terrorism, transnational organised crime, smuggling of drugs, natural and man-made disasters, climate change, and changing political scenario in Middle East and North Africa.
“I put across my view that significant rise in acts of terrorism by organisations like Taliban, Daesh (ISIS), Al-Qaeda, and LeT directly undermine international peace and security and endanger ongoing efforts to strengthen the global economy and ensure sustainable growth and development. India strongly recommends a comprehensive policy for dealing with global terrorism,” Sushma said after the talks. This is was her third RIC meeting as External Affairs Minister.
Without naming Pakistan, the three Ministers, in a strong-worded joint statement, called for swift and effective implementation of existing international commitments to countering terrorism, including the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and targeted sanctions relating to terrorism. “We agree to strengthen cooperation to take decisive and concerted actions against globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities. We condemn all forms of terrorism and all terrorists, terror entities and organizations listed by the UN Security Council,” they said.