I am delighted to address you all at the conclusion of my talks today
with my Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Of course
none of you would be surprised to learn that the discussions were very
warm, they were comprehensive and they were very productive.
2. Time-tested is a frequently used and clearly justified description
of India-Russia relations. Though the world has changed in the last
seven decades and there have been different governments at both ends,
our ties, I am Sure Minister Lavrov would agree, have remained uniquely
strong and steady. And the reason for that has been our consistent
ability to identify and update our shared interests. We are both
cognisant of the multi-polar and rebalanced nature of international
relations today. We both understand the importance of our relationship
to global peace, security and stability. And, therefore, as Foreign
Ministers, we work hard to deliver on that responsibility.
3. Much of our discussions today covered the preparations for President
Putin’s visit for the Annual Summit later this year. I am sure Minister
Lavrov would share my assessment that our bilateral cooperation remains
energetic and forward looking. We talked about longstanding partnership
in nuclear, space and defence sectors. We assessed positively our
economic cooperation, noting the new opportunities in Russian Far East.
We spoke of connectivity, including the International North-South
Transport Corridor and the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime
Corridor. Our rapidly expanding energy cooperation that now includes
long term commitments was also on the agenda. On my part, I briefed
Minister Lavrov on recent developments in India that open up new
Opportunities for Russian businesses in various sectors. The
Atmanirbhar Bharat economic vision can facilitate a more contemporary
economic relationship in the post-Covid era.
4. This review of our bilateral cooperation was really encouraging. We
note the appetite for greater investments in each other by both
countries. Russian support for our Gaganyaan programme has progressed
which we deeply appreciate. Our defence sector requirements in the past
year were expeditiously addressed. And in meeting the Covid challenge,
our pharmaceutical collaboration has become more serious and as many of
you are aware we have a Russian vaccine under discussion for production
in India.
5. There was naturally an exchange of views and assessments on
important regional and global matters. This had a particular importance
because we are both members of the UN Security Council right now. We
are a non-permanent member, Russia is a permanent member. Issues on
which India is chairing UNSC committees came up in some detail. India
has also taken over the Chair of BRICS and RIC from Russia for this
year. And our common membership of the G-20, ASEAN-led forums, SCO and
CICA added to the substance of our conversation.
6. One question on which we spent some time is the unfolding
developments in and around Afghanistan. As you all know, the Heart of
Asia – Istanbul Process conference took place last week, I was in
Dushanbe for that. There have been other discussions of a bilateral or
plurilateral nature as well. Many more can be expected in the coming
days. For India, what happens in Afghanistan impacts its security
directly. I shared our approach that a durable peace there would
require harmonising interests of all, both within and around that
country. The peace process must be based on foundational principles to
which we all subscribe. And a political solution should mean an
independent, sovereign, united and democratic Afghanistan.
7. There was an exchange of views on West Asia, the Gulf and Iran. This
is a geography where we both have longstanding equities and our active
diplomacy reflects that to great measure. Peace and stability in such a
sensitive and vital region is in global interest.
8. I shared our view-point on the Indo-Pacific. As our Prime Minister
pointed out at the Shangri-La Dialogue some years ago, contemporary
challenges require countries to work together in new and different
ways. Such cooperation also reflects the multi-polar and rebalanced
character of global politics. India is strongly committed to ASEAN
centrality and this is underlined by the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative
that it has been advocating at the East-Asia summit. As we implement
our Act East and beyond policy, Russia is a very important partner.
Whether it is their Far East or whether it is the Chennai-Vladivostok
Corridor.
9. In addition, of course there was the larger backdrop of global
political changes that provided a context for our talks today. As
longstanding partners, we could discuss their implications with a high
degree of confidence and comfort. I valued the quality of our
discussions today very much. We have completed a decade of our special
and privileged strategic partnership. And that certainly permeated the
tenor of our discussions. We also reviewed the forthcoming high level
exchanges leading up to the Annual Summit this year. Once again,
Minister Lavrov, it is a great pleasure to welcome you back to New
Delhi. I request you to make your statement.
