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Wuhan (China), Nov.14 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna said on Sunday that India accords high importance to the trilateral ministerial meet among Russia, India, China (RIC), as it is going to accord an opportunity to the foreign ministers to discuss issues of bilateral and global importance.

Krishna also said that he would try to utilise the opportunity of holding bilaterals with his Russian and Chinese counterparts to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest and also to enhance understanding of each other’s point of view.

Speaking to reporters on board while being on his way to Wuhan city of China, Krishna said: “We attach considerable importance to this forum which will accord the opportunity to the foreign ministers of these three countries to exchange views not only on bilateral issues but also on the state of the global affairs, the multilateral concerns that we have. And I am sure it is going to be mutually beneficial for all of us.”

“We would like to build on the decisions that we take, or the consensus that we arrive in this meeting. India has always approached such meetings with a sense of seriousness, responsibility. I am looking forward to this meeting,” said Krishna.

Speaking about his bilateral meetings with Russian and Chinese counterparts, Krishna said: “I am utilising this opportunity of having bilateral meetings both with Russia and China. I will be meeting the Russian Foreign Minister and also the Chinese Foreign Minister, so that we can discuss issues of mutual concern, issues of mutual interest so that, you know, we can understand each other better.”

“It is the sixth stand alone meeting of this combination. India has strategic partnership with both Russia who has been a time-tested friend of India and also China with whom we have a special strategicrelationship,” Krishna told reporters.

First RIC Ministerial meeting took place on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York in 2002 and the first stand alone Foreign Ministers meet was held in Vladivostok in Russia in 2005.

The three countries together account for 40 per cent of the global population and over 20 per cent of the global land mass. They are also among the fastest growing major emerging economies in the world and have influential voices beyond the region.

The trilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers broadly covers political issues which include UN reforms, terrorism, West Asia, Asia Pacific regional cooperation, Korean peninsula, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Shanghai Cooperation and so on.
Besides political issues it also focuses on trade and economic matters which would include the G-20 process, global economic governance architecture, climate change, Doha Round and WTO, development cooperation and energy. (ANI)