China and India see one another as natural partners

Reuters photo

By

Ratnesh Dwivedi

A meeting was held earlier this week in New Delhi of Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation, the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China to discuss issues of global and regional concern.

One issue raised was that of the Doklam incident, following which India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi expressed satisfaction that diplomatic communications had now resolved the issue with the disengagement of troops at the stand-off site.

Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated the following:

“During the meeting between External Affairs Minister and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang YI on 11th December in New Delhi, the issue of Doklam was raised. EAM and Chinese Foreign Minister both noted the challenge it had posed to the relationship and both expressed satisfaction that it was resolved with the disengagement of troops at the face-off site through concerted diplomatic communications.

Wang Yi conveyed that the peaceful resolution of the Doklam issue reflects the political maturity on both sides. While agreeing with this, EAM reiterated that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas is an essential pre-requisite for the smooth development of bilateral relations.

EAM also underlined the need for approaching our difference with due consideration to each other’s sensitivities and concerns.  She recalled the consensus between the leaders of India and China reached in Astana earlier this year on the need to work together to ensure that our difference do not become disputes.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that India and China share the same objectives of national development and should be natural partners.

To this end, both Foreign Ministers agreed to strengthen strategic communication at all levels, including between them, through the established dialogue mechanisms.”

Below are the minutes from Monday’s meeting in New Delhi:

• We, the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation, the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China held our 15th Meeting in New Delhi on 11 December 2017 and discussed global and regional issues of common concern. The Meeting took place in the backdrop of evolving political scenario in the Middle East and North Africa, numerous challenges in putting the world economy back on growth track, serious concerns relating to growing risks of terrorism, transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking, natural and man-made disasters, food security and climate change.

• We reiterate the importance we attach to the Russia-India-China Trilateral format as a platform to foster closer dialogue and practical cooperation in identified areas among the three countries. Our cooperation is not directed against any other country. We wish to strengthen the trilateral dialogue for consultation and coordination on regional and global issues of mutual interest in the spirit of mutual understanding and trust. Our cooperation is conducive to maintaining international and regional peace, stability and promoting global economic growth and prosperity.

• We underline the importance of establishment of a just and equitable international order based on international law and featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice in international relations. We believe that various crises in the world should be resolved in accordance with the international law and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, without resorting to force or external interference and through establishing broad national dialogue with due respect for political independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the countries.

• We reiterate our strong commitment to the United Nations as a universal multilateral organization entrusted with the mandate of helping the world community maintain international peace and security, advance common development, promote and protect human rights. The United Nations enjoys universal membership and embodies our aspirations in global governance and multilateralism.

• We recall the 2005 World Summit Outcome document and reaffirm the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of the developing countries so that it can adequately respond to global challenges. Foreign Ministers of China and Russia reiterate the importance they attach to the status of India in international affairs and support its aspiration to play a greater role in the United Nations.

• We stress the importance of coordination on the issues related to the UN reform. It has to be conducted through an active dialogue and consultation with the Member States. Implementation of new initiatives must clearly follow the mandates given by the General Assembly. In any outcome, Member States must maintain realistic mechanisms for monitoring the use of UN financial and human resources. In this context, prerogatives of the UN main organs, including in particular the UNGA, as stipulated by the UN Charter, must be respected.

• We reiterate the importance we attach to cooperation and strategic partnership within BRICS. We will work together to implement all outcomes of BRICS summits to strengthen cooperation in economic, political, security and people-to-people fields, so as to usher in the second golden decade of BRICS cooperation. Russia and India commend China for successful hosting of the Ninth BRICS Summit in Xiamen in September 2017.

• We attach special importance to our joint work within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). We regard SCO as an important instrument in promoting multilateral political, security economic and people-to-people interaction in the region. Foreign Ministers of Russia and China welcome the accession of India as a full-fledged member of SCO at the Astana SCO Summit in June 2017. Russia and India extend support and cooperation for China as the Chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for 2017-2018 and for China’s hosting of 2018 SCO Summit.

• We agree that maintaining regional security and economic architecture in the Asia-Pacific that is open, inclusive, and based on multilateralism, universally recognized principles of international law, is imperative for lasting peace and stability in the region. In this regard we reiterate our commitment to further promote dialogue on regional security architecture including within the East Asia Summit framework.

• Russia and China reiterate that they welcome India’s participation in APEC.

• We emphasize the need for coordination and cooperation in various regional forums and organizations such as East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), so as to contribute to maintaining regional peace and stability and to promote regional development and prosperity.

• We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including the recent heinous terrorist attacks around the world and reaffirm our determination to prevent and counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We reaffirm that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable irrespective of their motivations, committed wherever and by whomsoever. We call for greater unity, stronger international partnership and concerted actions by the international community in addressing the menace of terrorism in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereign equality of States and non-interference in their internal affairs. We commend Russia-led counterterrorism efforts and achievements in Syria aimed at defeating international terrorism. We emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, and in this context resolve to step up cooperation to prevent and counter terrorism and radicalization, combat the spread of terrorist ideology and propaganda, stop sources of terrorist financing, prevent travelling of and the supply of arms to terrorists, dismantle terrorist infrastructure, disrupt recruitment and the flow of Foreign Terrorist Fighters and prevent misuse of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for terrorist purposes. We underline the primary and leading role and responsibility of States in preventing and countering terrorism and extremism and reiterate that all States should take adequate measures to prevent terrorist activities from their territory.

• We stress that those committing, organizing, inciting or supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with the obligations under international law, including the principle of “extradite or prosecute” as well as the applicable domestic legislations.

• We call for swift and effective implementation of existing international commitments on countering terrorism, including the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and targeted sanctions relating to terrorism and the FATF International Standards worldwide. We agree to strengthen cooperation to take decisive and concerted actions against globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities. We condemn all forms of terrorism and all terrorists, terror entities and organizations listed by the UN Security Council.

• We seek to intensify cooperation in multilateral fora including FATF and FATF-style regional bodies (FSRBs) so as to cut the flows of funds, and other financial assets and economic resources to individuals and entities involved in terrorism including those proscribed under the relevant United Nations’ Sanctions. We stress the need for joint, integrated and balanced approach to deal with drug menace, its illicit production and trafficking including new psychoactive substances in accordance with the UN Conventions and principles of international law. We call for an early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations to establish the much needed comprehensive international legal framework to address the growing global menace of terrorism.

• We are deeply concerned about the threat of WMDs falling into the hands of terrorist groups, including the use of chemicals and biological agents for terrorist purposes. We would cooperate to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and to deny access to such weapons by non-state actors, including terrorists.

• We need to address the threat of nuclear, chemical and biological terrorism through intensified meaningful work in international fora. We express firm determination to explore actively the modalities of elaborating a mandate and launching negotiations to elaborate an international convention for the suppression of acts of chemical and biological terrorism at the Conference on Disarmament.

• We consider the UN has a role in developing universally accepted norms of responsible state behaviour in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to ensure a peaceful, secure, open, cooperative, stable, orderly, accessible and equitable ICT environment. In the use of ICTs, we emphasize the paramount importance of the principles of international law enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, particularly the state sovereignty, the political independence, territorial integrity and sovereign equality of states, non-interference in internal affairs of other states and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. We recognize the need for a universal regulatory binding instrument on combating the criminal use of ICTs. We believe that all states should participate on an equal footing in the evolution and functioning of the Internet and its governance, bearing in mind the need to involve relevant stakeholders in their respective roles and responsibilities. The structures that manage and regulate the critical Internet resources need to be made more representative and inclusive. We will continue to work together to contribute to the secure, open, peaceful and cooperative use of ICTs on the basis of equal participation of the international community in its management.

• We affirm that outer space should be preserved for peaceful exploration and use by current and future generations. We further emphasize the need to promote and strengthen international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and that priority should be accorded to ensuring long-term sustainability of outer space activities.

• Prevention of arms race in outer space is one of the key factors of maintaining international peace and security. We support efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to elaborate an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and threat or use of force against outer space assets and support the establishment of a UN Group of Governmental Experts to consider and make recommendations on substantial elements of the above-mentioned international legally binding instrument. We are engaged in dialogue on issues related to the drafting, within the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, of a set of guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.

• We reiterate our support to the Government and the people of Afghanistan in their efforts to achieve an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned national peace and reconciliation and build a peaceful, secure, united, sovereign, democratic, stable, prosperous and pluralistic state.

• We share the view that a capable and effective Afghan National Defence and Security Forces ANDSF should be the key to the stabilization of Afghanistan. Noting the significant increase of opium poppy production in Afghanistan and the nexus between narcotics revenue and its financial support for terrorism, we emphasize the need for stepping up result-oriented international efforts aimed at countering the Afghan drug threat.

• We stress the importance of multilateral region-led interaction on Afghan issues, primarily by those organizations which consist of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries and other regional states, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Moscow format, the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, the Kabul Process and the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan. We welcome the successful holding of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group meeting in Moscow on October 11.

• We welcome the beginning on 16 January 2016 of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed upon between E3/EU+3 and Iran in Vienna on 14 July 2015. We share the view that the main objective is to enhance confidence of the international community with regards to the Iranian nuclear programme and for the IAEA to ultimately confirm that this programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes. We welcome the fact that this complex issue was resolved through diplomatic means thus strengthening regional and global security as well as nuclear non-proliferation. We express readiness to exert all efforts in order to ensure sustainable implementation of the JCPOA and engagement of Iran in normal economic and political cooperation.

• To achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant UN Resolutions, the Arab peace initiative and previous agreements between the parties through negotiations aimed at creating an independent, viable, territorially contiguous Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders. We also emphasize intra-Palestinian unity as an important factor contributing to the Israeli-Palestinian settlement.

• We reaffirm that the only lasting solution to the crisis in Syria is through an inclusive “Syrian-led, Syrian-owned” political process which safeguards the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria, in pursuance of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254(2015), and promotes the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. We strongly support the Geneva Peace Talks and the Astana process, and welcome the creation of the de-escalation zones in Syria, which contributed to decrease the levels of violence and generate positive momentum and conditions for meaningful progress in the peace talks under the auspices of the UN. We appreciate international efforts to create a favorable atmosphere for Syrian peace talks and in particular including the plans to convene the Congress of the Syrian national Dialogue in Sochi. We oppose the use of chemical weapons by anyone, for any purpose and under any circumstances and call upon International community to remain united while addressing any use or threat of use of chemical weapons.

• We express concern over the continuing armed conflict in the Yemen Republic which has led to the killing of civilians and to the destruction of civilian infrastructure. We call for urgent measures by the international community to alleviate social and economic situation in the country and to facilitate unhindered access to humanitarian aid to all parts of the Yemen Republic. We call for immediate ceasefire in Yemen and urge all parties to the conflict to resume the nation-wide dialogue in which representatives of Yemeni political forces and different groups of Yemeni population could participate in discussing the future of their country.

• We express full respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. We support the efforts by the Iraqi government to combat terrorism and restore control over the territories taken by the so called ISIL. We call upon all Iraqi parties to enhance all-inclusive national reconciliation process in Iraq taking into account the interests of all segments of the Iraqi society. We stress the importance of an Iraqi-led national dialogue on the basis of Iraqi constitution that is able to strengthen the country’s stability, territorial integrity and democratic institutions. We also urge the international community to provide continued assistance and humanitarian support for Iraqi refugees and internally displaced people.

• We affirm strong commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya. We encourage Libyan political forces to overcome their dissensions and seek mutually acceptable solutions on all outstanding issues in pursuance of the Libyan Political Agreement. We express our support for the efforts in promoting national reconciliation by Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Libya, international partners, neighboring countries and regional organizations consolidated under the leadership of the UN. We also welcome Libyan-led efforts in fighting ISIL, Al Qaida and other terrorist groups, urge all Libyans to unite their struggle against terrorism.

• We express deep concern over the ongoing tension on the Korean Peninsula as a result of the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes of the DPRK.

• We affirm strong support for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine through the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements by all parties in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2202 (2015).

• Recognising the growing importance of maritime-trade in an increasingly globalised world, we support freedom of navigation and overflight rights based on the principles of international law, particularly UNCLOS.

• We agree that the imposition of unilateral sanctions, which exceed the ones agreed by the United Nations Security Council, is inconsistent with principles of international law, undermines the prerogatives of the United Nations Security Council as set forth in the UN Charter, reduces effectiveness of its sanctions regimes, disproportionally affects States against which they are imposed, as well as has a negative impact upon third States and international trade and economic relations at large.

• We reaffirm our commitment to a strong, quota-based, and adequately resourced IMF. We therefore call on the Fund to work expeditiously toward the completion of the 15th General Review of Quotas and agreeing on a new quota formula as a basis for a realignment of quota shares to result in increased shares for dynamic economies in line with their relative positions in the world economy while protecting the voice and representation of the poorest members within the timeline of the Spring Meetings of 2019 and no later than the Annual Meetings of 2019. We will continue to promote the implementation of the World Bank Group Shareholding Review.

• We emphasize the importance of an open and resilient financial system to sustainable growth and development, and agree to better leverage the benefits of capital flows and manage the risks stemming from excessive cross-border capital flows and fluctuation.

• We emphasize the importance of an open and inclusive world economy enabling all countries and peoples to share in the benefits of globalization. We remain firmly committed to a rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system as embodied in the WTO. We reaffirm our commitments to ensure full implementation and enforcement of existing WTO rules and are determined to work together to further strengthen the WTO. We call for the acceleration of the implementation of the Bali and Nairobi MCM outcomes and for the WTO ministerial conference to be held this year in Argentina to produce positive outcomes. We will continue to firmly oppose protectionism. We recommit to our existing pledge for both standstill and rollback of protectionist measures and we call upon other countries to join us in that commitment.

• We reaffirm our commitment to achieving a fair and modern global tax system and promoting a more equitable, pro-growth and efficient international tax environment, including to deepening cooperation on addressing Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, promoting exchange of tax information and improving capacity-building in developing countries.

• We reaffirm our commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achievement of it Sustainable Development Goals. We recognize the overarching goal of poverty-eradication and call upon countries to work together to implement the 2030 Agenda and the 17 SDGs in all three dimensions viz. economic, social and environment in a balanced manner, in light of their respective national circumstances. In this regard, we recognise the importance of a revitalised global partnership, as outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and renew our call to developed countries to fully honor their ODA commitments, mobilise additional finance and provide financial, technological and capacity building assistance to developing countries.

• We reaffirm our commitment to work together to ensure that the modalities for implementing the Paris Agreement adopted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are framed to reflect equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibility as recognised under the UNFCCC. We recognise the importance of Parties to fulfil their obligations in the pre-2020 period, and call on Parties to ratify the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol.

• We reaffirm our commitment to work together to ensure that the modalities for implementing the Paris Agreement adopted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

• We stress the importance of regional connectivity in enhancing political mutual trust, economic cooperation, and promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges. In this context they welcomed synergy of various initiatives to improve regional connectivity in Asia.

• We welcome the holding of the first trilateral Russia-India-China consultation on Asia Pacific affairs in Beijing in December 2016. These discussions have been helpful in developing a converging perspective on the emerging scenario in Asia Pacific region. We agree to hold the second trilateral consultation in New Delhi in the first half of 2018.

• We express satisfaction with the outcome of the 15th trilateral Academic Conference held in India in January 2017 and welcome the 16th Trilateral Academic Conference to be held in Russia next year.

• We welcome the first edition of the visit of RIC Young diplomats hosted by China in January 2017 and agree to hold the second such interaction in India in 2018.

• The Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China and the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation thanked the External Affairs Minister of the Republic of India for hosting and making excellent arrangements for the meeting in New Delhi.

• The Ministers decided to hold the next trilateral meeting in China. The time and venue of the meeting will be agreed through diplomatic channels

Ratnesh Dwivedi

Ratnesh Dwivedi is a seasoned Academician, Author, Journalist, NASA Certified Educator and Consultant with 15 plus years in teaching and corporate. He has seen the changing face of global politics and has written extensively on International Affairs.

He serves on board of a dozen global firms ranging from Mining, Oil & Gas, Electricity, Energy, Cyber Security, Intelligence, Defence and Counter Terrorism having the finest people from the corporate world and Goverment onboard.

He holds memberships with global organizations such as ECREA-Brussels, Mission Essential-Virginia, Global Ethics Network-Washington, American Astronomical Society-Washington, Internet Society-Virginia, CSIS-PONI-Washington, RTDNA-Washington, NSTA-Virginia, EIN News Desk, Bush Presidential Center, Texas, etc.

He has authored five books. The Story of an Intern is a Reportage, The Cosmic Mask is a Space Fiction, Third and fourth are awarded academic books. His fifth book, US Intelligence and Cost of War talks about USA Military engagements in the Middle East.