India, China, Russia holds trilateral meet in New Delhi; vows to boost maritime trade, fight terrorism and climate change
New Delhi, December 11: India, Russia and China on Monday held the trilateral meeting in New Delhi and discussed global and regional issues of common concern including trade, terrorism, transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking, natural and man-made disasters, food security and climate change.
The External Affairs Ministers of all the three countries held a joint press statement in which they said, “We reiterate the importance we attach to the Russia-India-China Trilateral format as a platform to foster closer dialogue and practical cooperation in identified areas among the three countries. Our cooperation is not directed against any other country. We wish to strengthen the trilateral dialogue for consultation and coordination on regional and global issues of mutual interest in the spirit of mutual understanding and trust. Our cooperation is conducive to maintaining international and regional peace, stability and promoting global economic growth and prosperity.”
Recognising the growing importance of maritime trade in an increasingly globalized world, we support freedom of navigation and overflight rights based on the principles of international law, particularly UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” said in the joint press statement issued after the meeting.
This statement also assumed the importance considering that freedom of navigation has come under threat with China ignoring The Hague Tribunal’s verdict on the South China Sea. Ever since the South China Sea dispute escalated, India has asserted adherence to the international maritime law.
On the issue of tackling terrorism, the joint statement called for “swift and effective” implementation of existing international commitments on countering terrorism, including the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and targeted sanctions relating to terrorism and the FATF International Standards worldwide.
In another significant decision, the RIC Foreign Ministers also welcomed the beginning of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed upon between E3/EU+3 and Iran in Vienna on 14 July 2015 regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
“We welcome the fact that this complex issue was resolved through diplomatic means thus strengthening regional and global security as well as nuclear non-proliferation. We express readiness to exert all efforts in order to ensure sustainable implementation of the JCPOA and engagement of Iran in normal economic and political cooperation,” the joint statement said.
While Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, “While discussing terrorism, I put across my view that a significant rise in acts of terrorism by terrorist organisations such as 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.”
The External Affairs Minister further said that the policy on global terrorism should include dealing with extremism, countering religious fanaticism, preventing recruitment of terrorists, disrupting terrorist movements, stopping all sources of financing of terrorism, stopping flow of FTFs (Foreign Terrorist Fighters), dismantling terrorist infrastructure, and countering terrorist propaganda through the internet, but we should not limit ourselves to these alone.
Earlier, Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on key bilateral issues. The two met in New Delhi at the Russia-India-China trilateral meet. This is the first high-level visit from China after the Dokalam standoff this summer. In their meeting, Swaraj and Wang discussed all issues of mutual interest.
“Imparting fresh momentum to our bilateral relationship, EAM Sushma Swaraj had a positive and forward-looking meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi ahead of Russia, India and China (RIC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
Swaraj also held a bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “Further strengthening our strategic partnership, EAM Sushma Swaraj had a productive meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on issues of mutual interest..,” Kumar said.
The foreign ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC) are here to deliberate on a range of pressing regional and global issues, including ways to tackle the threat of terrorism and extremism, at the key meeting of the grouping.
This is the first high-level visit from China after the Dokalam standoff in the Sikkim sector this summer. Chinese and Indian troops were locked in a 73-day border standoff from June 16 when Indian soldiers stopped Chinese personnel from building a key road close to India’s ‘chicken’s neck’ corridor. Wang will also attend an India-China cultural event in the evening.
Interestingly, on August 28 of this year, India announced the “disengagement” between the soldiers of the two countries. The road was being built by China in an area also claimed by Bhutan.