Esteemed representatives of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, FICCI and CII,
Distinguished delegates from Russia and China,
Dear friends,
First of all, let me extend deep gratitude to the respected Indian organizers of such a significant and remarkable event - India-Russia-China Trilateral Conference on Strengthening Economic Cooperation, which follows regular meetings between foreign ministers of the three countries.
Our three-party process has already become a substantial point on the international agenda and an important political factor of the modern global developments. Now we are working together to create favourable conditions to maintain and to develop this process, which is expected to be institutionalized in the near future.
We all have common understanding that our trilateral interaction has a substantial strategic significance, because Russia, India and China share same principles, accept same values and face same challenges, having close positions on major international problems.
We are united in our approaches to such core issues as strengthening the UN role, recognizing the realities of multi-polarity, democratizing international relations and resolving all major crises in the world by collective measures. Following these fundamental principles, reaffirmed by our foreign ministers, we are sending a strong signal that there is no alternative to equal multilateral cooperation in the contemporary world, which is essential to respond efficiently to the existing global threats and challenges.
Our trilateral agenda also includes cooperation within various entities of the Asia-Pacific Region and within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, joint work on climate change as well as the fight against terrorism.
At the recent ministerial meeting it was agreed to substantially step up of mutual information exchanges. This envisages creating a coordination mechanism under the auspices of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs as well as interaction in such fields as agriculture, public health, information technologies, emergency prevention and disaster management. In all these areas it is necessary to maintain and further increase the pace, quality and efficiency of joint efforts.
Trilateral meetings of academicians have now become a regular feature. The Seventh Forum of Russian, Indian and Chinese scholars was held in Moscow in last October. They exchanged views and assessment of the current situation in the world, and voiced various ideas on the major international problems.
A trilateral business conference is considered as the next step to further strengthen our cooperation and highlights the multifaceted character of our partnership. The huge economic potential of Russia, India and China, the growth rates of our economies, which are the highest in the world, and complementarity of our intensive development provide bright prospects for our business communities to find mutually beneficial spheres of interaction. In this regard today"s business-to-business meeting presents a unique opportunity for our entrepreneurs to establish new contacts and to think over new mutually beneficial trilateral projects.
The atmosphere here is very friendly and warm. No doubt that this meeting will lay the foundation for future successful partnership between businesses of Russia, India and China on a three-party basis. It is undoubtedly a reflection of the fact that the platform of the Troika is truly becoming yet another mechanism of boosting our cooperation and adding economic substance to it.
Dear participants, let me wish all of you every success in your endeavours to build up a new level of partnership and gain considerable results from it.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
http://www.india.mid.ru/sp_90_e.html
(Le Meredien Hotel, New Delhi, December 15, 2007)
