Jaishankar reviews India-Russia ties at consultative committee meeting

 

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar chaired a consultative committee meeting on India-Russia relations in New Delhi on Saturday, reviewing key areas of the bilateral relationship and India’s approach towards the Ukraine conflict.

During the meeting, Jaishankar highlighted the broad nature of India’s engagement with Russia, covering trade, investment, energy, connectivity, culture and people-to-people ties.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss developments in the relationship and the various sectors in which India and Russia continue to cooperate.

Energy remains an important component of India-Russia economic engagement, while trade and investment have also been areas of continuing discussion between the two countries.

Connectivity and people-to-people exchanges were among the other areas highlighted during the meeting, reflecting the wider scope of the bilateral relationship beyond economic and strategic issues.

The Ukraine conflict was also discussed. Jaishankar said India continues to support dialogue and diplomacy as the means to end the conflict.

India has consistently maintained that lasting solutions to international conflicts should be pursued through dialogue and diplomatic engagement. New Delhi has also continued to maintain communication with all relevant parties while balancing its relationships with Russia, Ukraine and Western countries.

The consultative committee meeting brought parliamentary representatives into discussions on India’s engagement with Russia and developments affecting the bilateral relationship.

The meeting comes as India continues to maintain its longstanding relationship with Moscow while also expanding its engagement with other major international partners.

Trade, energy and connectivity remain important areas for India-Russia cooperation, while developments in Europe and the wider international environment continue to influence the relationship.

The latest meeting therefore provided a review of both the established areas of cooperation and India’s diplomatic position on the ongoing Ukraine conflict.