By Paul Jouvenet, jurist, essayist and consultant in international affairs. Eurasia Business News, July 11, 2024. Article n°1085.
Russia and India signed on July 9 a joint statement following the 22nd Russian-Indian annual summit “Russia – India: Strong and Expanding Partnership”, reported the Kremlin press service.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Russia on an official visit on July 8.
The statement indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted the continued strengthening and expansion of the special privileged strategic partnership between the countries. Regular contacts between Russia and India within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), BRICS and the G20 contributed to the deepening of bilateral partnership. The Sides gave a positive assessment of the Russian-Indian relations in a number of areas and noted that relations in the current complex and uncertain political situation remain stable.
In the field of cooperation between the foreign ministries, the leaders of both countries welcomed close contacts, which help to build and develop cooperation, as well as adapt to changes. The Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that their ministries of foreign affairs regularly hold inter-ministerial consultations on a number of issues, including the bilateral agenda, UN issues, counter-terrorism and consular cooperation. In addition, parliamentary interaction continues, along with cooperation between the security councils of the two countries.
In the field of trade and economic cooperation, Putin and Modi noted the growth of bilateral trade last year – it almost doubled the previously set bar of $30 billion by 2025. The parties have set a new trade target: India and Russia intend to reach $100 billion by 2030.
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Russia and India intend to strengthen cooperation in the field of transport engineering, metallurgy, chemical industry, fertilizer supplies and other industries. The parties expressed interest in expanding cooperation in information and communication technologies (ICT), including satellite and mobile communications. Moscow and New Dehli want to facilitate entry of Indian and Russian companies into each other’s markets by creating subsidiaries and industrial clusters.
On the issue of transport corridors, Russia and India paid attention to the development of promising production and supply chains in the Eurasian space. The states will build up logistics ties, while increasing the capacity of the infrastructure for the launch of the Vladivostok-Chennai sea corridor and the North-South International Transport Corridor (ITC), as well as for the development of the potential of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). In addition, Russia and India agreed to cooperate in the field of civil aviation.
The joint statement enshrines the cooperation of the parties in the energy sector, in the Far East and in the Arctic zone of Russia. Energy cooperation is defined as an “important pillar” of a special and privileged strategic partnership, in the context of which it is important to conduct bilateral trade in relevant resources. India and Russia welcomed the signing of the Program of Russian-Indian Cooperation in the Trade, Economic and Investment Spheres in the Russian Far East for 2024-2029, as well as on the principles of cooperation in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.
In the field of peaceful nuclear energy, Russia and India noted the progress made in the construction of power units of the Kudankulam NPP. The states will continue technical consultations for the implementation of a new Russian-designed nuclear power plant with a VVER-1200 reactor plant. On the issue of outer space, States have agreed to use outer space for peaceful purposes and to coordinate the development, production and use of rocket engines.
In military and military-technical cooperation, the leaders of the two countries agreed to hold the 21st meeting of the intergovernmental commission of the Russian Federation and India on military cooperation and military-technical cooperation in Moscow in the second half of 2024.
Russia and India have identified agriculture, science and technology, shipbuilding and ship repair, the blue economy, the maritime industry, healthcare, polar research, nanotechnology, etc.
The leaders of Russia and India condemned terrorism and extremism in all their forms. They called for fighting against them, including in Afghanistan. Russia and India welcomed the measures against international terrorist groups. They expressed confidence that the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan will be comprehensive and effective.
Modi’s official visit to Moscow took place on July 8 and 9. The last time he met with Putin was at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand in September 2022. The leaders held a meeting in a narrow format and decided not to hold a conversation in an expanded one, since they had already discussed all the main issues.
India advocates for a multipolar world order and aims to be a “Vishwa Bandhu” (friend to the world). This approach involves deepening relationships with the West while maintaining ties with Russia.
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India fully supports the expansion of the BRICS, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the plenary session of the bloc’s summit in August 2023 in Johannesburg. From January 1, 2024, five new Member States joined the BRICS, including Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and United Arab Emirates.
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© Copyright 2024 – Eurasia Business News. Article No. 1085.
Eurasia Business News 