The Hindu : `India-Russia-China triangle has good prospects'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

International

International - India & World

`India-Russia-China triangle has good prospects'

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, FEB. 21. Trilateral interaction among Russia, India and China has "very good prospects," according to the Indian Ambassador to Russia, Krishnan Raghunath.

"Moscow, Delhi and Beijing are moving from non-governmental contacts in a triangular format to discussing issues of common concern at a high official level," he told Itar-Tass news agency here.

The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the three countries on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last year made an important contribution to deepening trilateral discussion, he said. Another meeting was being planned in New York for autumn.

The process will "move forward," Mr. Raghunath said.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, told The Hindu last month that he would host a trilateral meeting with the Foreign Ministers of India and China here "in the near future."

According to the Indian envoy "the range of issues of common concern is broad enough."

These include "global and regional security, international terrorism and narcotics, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear materials, as well as multilateral economic partnership in major regional projects."

This year will see Indo-Russian bilateral exchanges, including a series of Minister-level meetings, to prepare an annual summit.

The External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, plans to visit Russia mid-year ahead of a scheduled meeting of the Indo-Russian Intergovernmental Commission.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Manohar Joshi, is to pay a visit shortly to discuss "further upgrading of cooperation in science and technology, energy and space."

Early next month, India and Russia will hold Foreign Secretaries-level consultations.

"Important work lies ahead to implement major defence deals signed in recent years, including the refit of the Gorshkov aircraft carrier," Mr. Raghunath said.

"The Indian Navy will soon take delivery of a third frigate built by Russia; more projects are in the pipeline."

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