New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) India, China and Russia todayheld discussions on key issues of mutual interest, includingsecurity and economic architecture in the Asia-Pacific region,and decided to strengthen bilateral ties while expanding thetrilateral cooperation.
During the 15th Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral meet,the foreign ministers--Sushma Swaraj, Wang Yi (China) andSergey Lavrov (Russia)--also discussed about the situation inAfghanistan.
"Our discussions today were focused on four broad clusterof areas, namely, economic and developmental issues; fightagainst terrorism; global/multilateral issues; and, regionalissues," Swaraj said at a joint press event with Wang andSergey.
The three countries also resolved to step up cooperationto counter terrorism, including choking terror funding anddismantling terrorist infrastructure, as the Indian sideflagged concerns over increasing acts of terrorism byPakistan-based terror outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT).
The leaders shared the view that a capable and effectiveAfghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) should bethe key to the stabilisation of Afghanistan.
"Noting the significant increase of opium poppyproduction in Afghanistan and the nexus between narcoticsrevenue and its financial support for terrorism, we emphasisethe need for stepping up result-oriented international effortsaimed at countering the Afghan drug threat," the statementsaid.
Swaraj said the discussions included issues like thechallenges of the global economy, increasing terrorism,transnational organised crime, smuggling of drugs, natural andman-made disasters, climate change, and changing politicalscenario in Middle East and North Africa.
On his part, Sergey said the RIC format is about tobecome one of the key drivers of overall regional efforts toimprove the architecture of interstate relations within theAsia-Pacific Region (APR), which should be based on theprinciple of inclusive, equal and indivisible security.
"Guided by this vision, our countries seek to step updialogue with their regional partners, above all with ASEANmembers," Sergey said.
Using the RIC format to promote cooperation is animportant element in efforts designed to bring about amultipolar architecture that will be more just and democratic,he added.
A joint statement issued by the grouping said, "Ourcooperation is not directed against any other country. We wishto strengthen the trilateral dialogue for consultation andcoordination on regional and global issues of mutual interestin the spirit of mutual understanding and trust."The cooperation is conducive to maintaining internationaland regional peace, stability and promoting global economicgrowth and prosperity, it said.
The leaders also underlined the importance ofestablishing a just and equitable international order based oninternational law and featuring mutual respect, fairness,justice in international relations.
"We believe that various crises in the world should beresolved in accordance with the international law and theprinciples enshrined in the UN Charter, without resorting toforce or external interference and through establishing broadnational dialogue with due respect for political independence,territorial integrity and sovereignty of the countries," itsaid.
Welcoming the holding of the first trilateral Russia-India-China consultation on Asia Pacific affairs in Beijing inDecember 2016, the leaders said these discussions have beenhelpful in developing a converging perspective on the emergingscenario in Asia Pacific region.
"We agree to hold the second trilateral consultation inNew Delhi in the first half of 2018," the statement said.
The ministers decided to hold the next trilateral meetingin China and the time and venue of the meeting would be agreedthrough diplomatic channels. PTI PYKAAR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.