India regards format of RIC meetings as effective mechanism

NEW DELHI, November 14 (Itar-Tass) - India regards the format of the
Russia-India-China (RIC) meetings as "an effective mechanism for
exchanging opinions on all questions of mutual interest", said Indian
Foreign Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash on the eve of the departure of
Indian Foreign Minister Somanahalli Malaiah Krishna to the Chinese city of
Wuhan to participate in the tenth meeting of the RIC foreign ministers.
"Russia, India and China are the most important states in the region
(Asia) and far away its boundaries. Meetings at the level of foreign
ministers have become an important forum for regular exchange of opinions
and consultations on many questions of mutual interest," the spokesman
said.
He noted that the sides discuss in the RIC format "pressing political,
trade and economic issues". "The present 10th meeting of the RIC foreign
ministers will centre on international and regional questions to perk up
our tripartite partnership as well as to consolidate cooperation within
the G20," he added.
The spokesman noted that the Indian minister would hold bilateral
meetings with his Russian and Chinese counterparts. "India has developed
relations of diverse cooperation with Russia and China. These two
countries are our key strategic partners," Prakash emphasised.
The foreign ministers of India, Russia and China have been holding
meetings in the tripartite format since 2003. The previous ninth meeting
was staged in Bangalore, Karnataka State, in October 2009. The sides
adopted a joint communique by its results, reflecting in detail approaches
of the three countries to international and regional issues.
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