New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) Russia today pitched for Indiajoining China's One Belt One Road initiative and hoped thatNew Delhi will find a way out to benefit from the megaconnectivity project without sacrificing its position on theissues flagged by it.
In an address at a think tank, Russian Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov also said a sustainable security architecture inthe Asia Pacific region cannot be achieved through "blocarrangement", in a clear signal of Moscow's opposition to thequadrilateral grouping comprising the US, Japan, India andAustralia.
Talking about regional issues, the Russian ForeignMinister said that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj"suggested" improving not only India-China ties but alsoIndia's relations with Pakistan.
Lavrov, Swaraj and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi todayheld the 15th Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral meetingduring which a range of regional and global issues werediscussed.
On OBOR, Lavrov said Russia feels the concept is veryinteresting and needed to be explored in the context ofbuilding harmonious relationship for deeper regional trade andinvestment.
About India's opposition to the project, he said, "thespecific problem in this regard should not make everythingelse conditional for resolving political differences".
India has opposed the OBOR due to its sovereigntyconcerns over the USD 50 billion China Pakistan EconomicCorridor (CPEC) which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK). CPEC is part of the OBOR.
Lavrov said almost all the central Asian countries havealready signed documents with China for cooperation in theOBOR while Russia and other members of the Eurasian EconomicUnion concluded economic cooperation agreement with it,indicating that the process is irreversible.
"I am 100 per cent convinced that India has enough verysmart diplomats and politicians to find a way which will allowit to benefit from this process and at the same time not tosacrifice your position," the Russian Foreign Minister said.
In a clear reference to the quadrilateral grouping amongthe US, India, Japan and Australia, he said, "We believe thatsustainable security architecture in the Asia Pacific regioncannot be achieved through bloc arrangement and is onlypossible through an open ended collective basis."Officials of the four countries held their first meetingin Manila last month to give shape to the much talked aboutquadrilateral alliance to keep the Indo-Pacific region "freeand open".
The formation of the bloc is seen as an effort to containChina's growing assertiveness in the resource-rich area.
The Russian Foreign Minister also talked about the needfor peaceful settlement of the disputes saying use of forceand threatening to use force will not resolve any issue.
Calling India a key partner for Russia, he said furtherstrengthening of ties between the two countries can addressnumerous problems in the Asia Pacific region.
On tackling terrorism, he called for a "truly universalcoalition" to act against the terror groups without "anydouble standards and hidden agenda".
Sounding critical of the role of the US in Afghanistan,Lavrov said every stakeholder including the Taliban and thewar-ravaged country's neighbours should be taken on board forbrining lasting peace to it.
The Russian Foreign Minister said his country was readyto ensure transfer of technology to manufacture criticalmilitary platforms in India in joint venture and co-development projects. PTI MPBRT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.