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Press Release
Joint Communiqué on the outcome of the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers
of the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China and the
Republic of India
(Yekaterinburg;
May 15, 2008)
1. The Eighth Meeting of
the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation, the People's Republic
of China and the Republic of India was held on May 14-15, 2008 in
Yekaterinburg, Russia.
2. The Ministers noted with satisfaction the increasing interaction
between Russia, China and India, fast growing, multi ethnic countries
with rich history and culture. It was underlined that trilateral
interaction was contributing to the shaping of a multi polar, stable and
harmonious world, to democratization of international relations and a
more just and rational international order.
3. The Ministers positively assessed the efforts made by the three
Parties to build up the potential of cooperation in accordance with the
outcome of the Harbin Meeting on October 24, 2007.
4. The first round of consultations between the Heads of Departments of
the Russian, Chinese and Indian Foreign Ministries held in February 2008
in Moscow was highly appreciated. It signals the beginning of regular
exchange of views at this level on implementation of understandings
reached during the Russia-China-India Foreign Ministers’ meetings and
preparation for their future meetings. Russia – China – India forum on
agricultural cooperation on April 28, 2008 in Beijing is an important
step towards promotion of trilateral interaction in this sphere.
Substantial work to establish cooperation between experts of the three
countries on health & medicine and disaster mitigation & relief has also
been started. It was agreed that the first trilateral meetings on these
subjects would be held in 2008.
5. The Ministers
highlighted the importance of enhancing contacts between the business
communities of Russia, China and India and in this regard commended the
outcome of the first trilateral business forum held in New Delhi in
December 2007. A meeting of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
Russia and India and the China Council for the Promotion of
International Trade will be held in Moscow in the autumn of 2008. The
second trilateral business forum is scheduled to take place in China in
2009.
6. The Ministers appreciated the holding of the trilateral Seminar on
Evolution of Geo-Political Strategic Trends in New Delhi in March this
year with the participation of officials and experts from Russia, China
and India which further encouraged the multifaceted dialogue between the
official circles and academic communities of the three countries.
7. The Ministers reiterated their intention to actively deepen dialogue
and interaction between the three countries. Special attention was paid
to the wide-ranging possibilities of cooperation in the humanitarian
field. In this context, Russia, China and India stated that they attach
great importance to international cooperation in promoting and
protecting human rights and basic freedoms. Bearing in mind that drawing
lines on the ground of ideologies and values or on geographical criteria
is not conducive to peaceful and harmonious coexistence, the Ministers
believe that such cooperation should take due account of specific
characteristics of cultural and historical development of each of the
countries and respect for traditional values of civilizations. The
Ministers emphasized that international humanitarian assistance should
focus on disaster relief, reconstruction etc and refrain from
interference in internal affairs.
8. The Ministers
discussed in detail the global situation and the major international and
regional problems and reaffirmed the commonality in the approaches of
the three countries.
9. The Ministers reiterated that today's world order should be based on
the rule of international law and the strengthening of multilateralism
with the United Nations playing the central role. They reaffirmed the
need for a comprehensive reform of the UN with a view to make it more
efficient so that it can deal with the current global challenges more
effectively. The Ministers of Russia and China reiterated that their
countries attach importance to the status of India in international
affairs, and understand and support India’s aspirations to play a
greater role in the United Nations.
10. The Ministers confirmed their countries’ commitments made under the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol and
underlined the need to develop greater interaction in international
cooperation to combat global climate change. They declared the intention
of the three nations to take all necessary efforts to implement the Bali
Plan of Action.
11. The Ministers agreed
that elaboration of a common position in the field of counteracting new
challenges and threats within the framework of the United Nations is of
particular importance. They expressed their confidence that their
anti-terrorism cooperation should be actively supported both within the
framework of the UN system and regional organizations. They also called
upon all member states to comply with relevant international terrorism
conventions and related protocols, and the Security Council resolutions
on counter-terrorism. While supporting the implementation of the UN
Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy the Ministers emphasized that all
member states should make concerted efforts towards expeditious
finalization of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at
the UN. They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening
cooperation among their countries to combat terrorism.
12. Reviewing the situation in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR), the
Ministers stated that it is defined by the aspiration of the region
towards peace and sustainable economic development. Guided by the
principles of multilateralism and equal security they stressed the
necessity of a regional security system based on mutual confidence,
mutual taking into account the interests of the other sides, equality
and cooperation. They expressed themselves in favor of expanding the
economic integration in the APR on a mutually beneficial and
non-discriminatory basis in accordance with the principles of open
regionalism.
13. The Ministers
reaffirmed their countries’ common desire to expand multifaceted
cooperation with the Central Asian countries, including in the fields of
combating terrorism, separatism, extremism, illegal drug trafficking and
transboundary crime. The Ministers spoke in favor of identifying various
forms of trilateral interaction in order to promote further development
of the region. The Ministers of Russia and China welcome India’s
aspirations for playing an enhanced role as an Observer State within the
SCO framework.
14. The Ministers praised the achievements of Afghanistan on the way for
its reconstruction, but at the same time expressed concern at the
continuing deterioration of the security situation there due to
continued terrorist attacks and resurgence of the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
They stressed the importance of rendering assistance to the Afghan
government in fulfilling its tasks in the field of security, in
improving the functioning of governmental institutions and social and
economic development of the country. They highlighted the need for
strict observance of the sanctions regime against Afghan extremist
leaders and other persons and entities listed by UN Security Council
Committee 1267, tough rebuff to the forces of terrorism and extremism in
Afghan territory as also for further increasing the efforts to eradicate
the drug threat coming from Afghanistan. The Sides noted the importance
of international and regional cooperation in creating a comprehensive
system of anti-drug security belts alongside the borders of Afghanistan
with the UN playing a central coordinating role and cooperation of the
neighboring countries.
15. The Ministers noted
the need to continue the efforts to achieve at the earliest a political
and diplomatic settlement of the situation around the Iranian nuclear
program through negotiations. The purpose of these negotiations is to
find a long-term comprehensive solution that provides for the trust of
the international community to be restored in the exclusively peaceful
nature of the program to ensure that Iran can exercise its right to the
peaceful use of atomic energy and to open up the path to wider
international cooperation with Iran.
16. The Ministers call upon all interested parties to continue active
efforts to promote the six-party talks on resolving the Korean Peninsula
nuclear problem towards peaceful and full denuclearization of the
Peninsula in accordance with all relevant agreements achieved earlier in
Beijing.
17. The Ministers noted the importance of settling the issue of the
status of Kosovo in accordance with norms of international law with the
UN playing the leading role and on the basis of an agreement between the
parties. The unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo is
contrary to the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which should remain
the legal basis for the settlement of Kosovo issue till new decisions by
the UN. The Ministers call upon Belgrade and Pristina to act within the
framework of international law in order to search for an appropriate
solution to the problem through negotiations.
18. The Russian and Indian Ministers reaffirmed their countries’ support
to the Beijing Olympic Games and efforts to ensure their successful
holding.
19. The Ministers expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting
and decided to hold the next trilateral meeting in India.
Yekaterinburg,
15 May 2008 |
