New Delhi, Sep 11 (UNI) Russia, India and China (RIC) have agreed to further strengthen trilateral cooperation on topical issues in the spirit of mutual understanding, friendship and trust saying it would be conducive to promoting growth, peace and stability in the region and internationally.

The three countries reiterated support for inclusive multi-lateralism and respect for universally recognized principles of international law.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who held a meeting in Moscow on Thursday, exchanged views on further strengthening RIC trilateral cooperation and topical issues of international and regional importance in the spirit of mutual understanding, friendship and trust.

The Russian Foreign Minister officially handed over the chairmanship of RIC to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, an official statement released here on Friday said.

The meeting comes as two RIC members India and China are involved in border row along the Line of Actutal Control (LAC) in Ladakh.
Recalling their video-conference of June 23 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Second World War and the creation of the United Nations, the Ministers noted with appreciation the continuation of joint activities held under the RIC framework, including the 2nd RIC DG-level Consultations on Regional Issues hosted by India in August 2019, 17th RIC Academic Exchange Conference hosted by China in September 2019, the 3rd edition of the RIC Young Diplomats Programme hosted by Russia in October 2019 and the first online meeting of national sanitary and epidemiological services held on September 8.

The Ministers agreed that the three countries, with strong scientific and industrial capacities, could make a significant contribution towards mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
UNI RB SB 1652