Clarifications on Russia-India-China Trilateral Talks

No Current Plans for RIC Meeting

Recent discussions surrounding a possible trilateral meeting have been clarified by sources, indicating that no agreement has been reached for a Russia-India-China (RIC) format meeting at this time. Additionally, there are no ongoing talks about scheduling such a dialogue, according to these sources. During a media briefing on Thursday, Randhir Jaiswal, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized that the RIC mechanism serves as a platform for the three nations to address global and regional issues of mutual interest.

Jaiswal stated, “This consultative format allows the three countries to engage in discussions on global and regional matters that concern them. The timing of the next RIC meeting will be determined collaboratively by the three nations, and we will inform you when it is appropriate to do so.”

He also highlighted the significance of the India-Russia Summit, which was last conducted in Moscow. Jaiswal mentioned that the scheduling of the next summit will be arranged based on mutual convenience. “The India-Russia summit is crucial. The last annual summit took place in Moscow, and it is now India’s turn to host the next one in Delhi. The dates will be finalized considering what works best for both parties,” he remarked.

Furthermore, Jaiswal noted that following External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's meeting with China's Foreign Secretary Wang Yi, the concerns of the Indian industry are well-documented. He added, “The SCO meeting is still a few months away, and participation from countries will be confirmed based on mutual convenience. We will provide updates at the appropriate time.”

Regarding the RIC meeting, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed, “Cooperation among China, Russia, and India is beneficial for all three nations, as well as for regional and global peace, security, stability, and progress. China is prepared to maintain communication with Russia and India to enhance trilateral cooperation.” The RIC grouping was established in the late 1990s under the leadership of Russian politician Yevgeny Primakov, and collectively, these countries represent over 19% of the world's land area.