TIME TO GET CLOSER: External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh greets Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing at the trilateral meeting in Vladivostok on Thursday. — Photo: PTI

VLADIVOSTOK: India, Russia and China on Thursday upgraded their trilateral dialogue, deciding to move from discussion to joint action and add an economic dimension to their political cooperation.

The Foreign Ministers of the three countries saw their first stand-alone meeting as a quantum jump in their triangular dialogue. The previous three meetings were on the sidelines of various international forums. For the first time, the Ministers adopted a joint communiqué setting out a common agenda.

"New impetus"

"The Ministers expressed shared confidence that their meeting in Vladivostok would provide a new impetus to the trilateral dialogue in all spheres of mutual interest," it said. Even though the trilateral dialogue is considered informal, the Vladivostok meeting effectively institutionalised it as an integral part of their foreign policy and a key element of global politics.

The Ministers "confirmed that strengthening of partnership in the trilateral format met the long-term national interests of India, Russia and China," the communiqué said. "They were convinced that development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the three countries in practical terms would make a considerable contribution to the strengthening of peace and stability not only in Asia but also globally."

It declared "the intention of India, Russia and China to cooperate in the trilateral format in combating new threats and challenges," above all terrorism and drug trafficking.

For the first time, the countries called for "coordinated action between the law enforcement authorities ... to act against illegal drug-trafficking and other manifestation of trans-border crimes."

The Foreign Ministers identified "transport, agriculture, energy and high technologies" as areas having "considerable potential" for trilateral cooperation. They decided to task experts and officials to meet and make specific recommendations for interaction in these and other sectors.

Even as the Ministers emphasised that their dialogue was not directed against any third country, their joint statement implied the rejection of unilateral policies pursued by the United States. India, Russia and China said they "favoured democratisation of international relations aimed at building a just world order based on the observance of international law, equity, mutual respect, cooperation and progress towards multipolarity." They underlined "the central role" of the United Nations in building a multi-polar world and rejected "double standards" in combating terrorism.

External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh said the meeting carried "very great importance," while Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that "the interaction of Russia, India and China must become a key factor of international stability."

In contrast to their previous meeting in Almaty last year, China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing did not emphasise the informal nature of the dialogue but hailed its "joint contribution to the glorious cause of global peace and stability."

U.N. reform

The U.N. reform was discussed at great length, with the three countries registering their agreement "on the objective requirement for comprehensive reforms of the U.N., including of the UNSC."

But while Russia and China both support India's bid for permanent membership of the Security Council, the Indian and Russian Ministers failed to persuade China to lift its objections to Japan as a member of the quartet of Security Council candidates promoted by India, informed sources said.

Speaking after a bilateral India-Russia meeting later, Mr. Lavrov said that "talks are not over yet" and the three sides had agreed "to continue efforts to bring closer positions" on U.N. reform.

Mr. Singh expressed the hope that a framework resolution on U.N. reform might be submitted "in the not too distant future."

The situation in Central Asia figured both at the trilateral meeting and the bilateral meeting. Mr. Singh said the recent destabilisation in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan was "a matter of great concern and worry" for India and that Delhi was watching the situation "very closely."

"There is no doubt that undesirable outside elements are trying to destabilise the situation in this part of Asia in the name of religion," Mr. Singh said at a joint interaction with media after his meeting with Mr. Lavrov. "It is essential for India and Russia that peace and stability return to the region so that development in those countries is not hampered."

Mr. Lavrov said information was available that extremist elements from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and the Taliban and Chechen rebels were involved in last month's riots in Uzbekistan.

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