Russia says on one page with India on open and fair political and economic system

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the long-standing relationship between India and Russia has continued to develop consistently. He noted that both New Delhi and Moscow support an open and fair political and economic system that benefits all people.

Lavrov emphasized that the agreements between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin have established a reliable foundation for the India-Russia partnership. He made these remarks at the start of his bilateral meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Moscow on Wednesday.

“Our relationship is long-standing and positive, and it is encouraging to see its consistent progress today. We have a trusted partnership as confirmed by our bilateral cooperation based on the understandings between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin,” Lavrov said.

The Russian Foreign Minister further highlighted that the high quality of the India-Russia relationship is demonstrated through their multilateral cooperation in international organizations such as the UN, BRICS, SCO and G20. Noting that both countries support an open and fair system for all, Lavrov added that the two leaders are committed to ensuring efficient implementation of decisions by their respective governments.

“We share common principles of respecting the UN Charter and principles of international law. Both India and Russia support openness and fairness in the political and economic spheres. Our leaders have established a framework for comprehensive cooperation,” Lavrov stated.

He continued, “We have close coordination between our foreign ministries and other government agencies. We also maintain parliamentary and educational links, as well as relationships supported by our citizens. Today, an important task is to identify further actions to ensure efficient implementation of decisions by our governments.

During his remarks, EAM Jaishankar affirmed that the India-Russia partnership has remained very strong and steady. He noted that the two leaders will focus on bilateral cooperation across different areas.

“Our relationship has been very stable and positive. I believe we have lived up to our special strategic partnership. This year alone we have met six times, including this seventh meeting. Prime Minister Modi and President Putin have also remained in frequent contact. We expect strong Russian participation at the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat meeting in January,” Jaishankar stated.

He added, “Today we will focus on our bilateral cooperation across various spheres, adapting it to changing circumstances and needs. We will discuss the international strategic situation, global conflicts and tensions.