New Delhi, June 12 (Agency) Russia and India saw “intensified cooperation in the field of energy and fertilizers in 2022”, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov said today, in reference to India’s increased purchase of Russian crude amid the Ukraine conflict. He also said the delivery of S-400 missile systems from Russia is proceeding well. In a message on the occasion of Russia Day today, the Ambassador also said that Moscow “deeply cherishes equal and respectful relations with India”.
“Our cooperation plays the role of a defining factor for global peace, stability and sustainable development. We are confident in the future of our bilateral ties and are ready to move forward in utilizing their potential and exploring new horizons for the benefit of the people of our two friendly nations,” he said. Alipov said the year 2022 marks 75 years of India’s Independence and also the 75th Anniversary of the Russian-Indian diplomatic relations, which were established in April 1947. Throughout these years the two sides succeeded in building true friendship and mutual trust exemplified by numerous proud milestones such as the industrialization and power plants construction in India with Soviet assistance in the 1950-1960s, setting up of the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay in 1958, the groundbreaking Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation of 1971, the flight of the first Indian cosmonaut on the “Soyuz T-11” spacecraft in 1984, the Declaration of Strategic Partnership of 2000 and many more.
“Today’s Russia-India multidimensional cooperation is one of the world’s most elaborate ones with regular meetings of the two intergovernmental commissions, sector-wise ministerial, security advisors’ and senior officials dialogue, foreign office consultations and coordination in the global arena, complemented by diverse business, cultural and people-to-people contacts. “Russia and India were among the first in the world to establish the practice of annual bilateral summits. The XXI Summit in December 2021 in New Delhi held in-person, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and the introduction of the “2+2” ministerial format became yet another landmark,” he added. He said the positions of both sides on core issues remain similar or coinciding, stressing the need to uphold the central role of the United Nations “towards just and equal multipolarity and opposing unilateral and confrontational approaches”, in reference to the US-led West. “We continue close coordination on the agenda of BRICS as well as the G20 and the SCO, which India will chair in 2022-2023.” He cited the flagship initiatives, including the Kudankulam nuclear power plant construction and advanced defense ties within the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ programmes, such as AK-203 rifles manufacturing, combat aviation and main battle tanks production as well as frigates, submarines, Brahmos and other missiles projects.
“The best of a kind S-400 systems delivery is proceeding well according to the schedule,” he said, adding that these “make our cooperation unparalleled”. “With the increased volumes of bilateral trade by more than 45% in 2021, this positive trend is supplemented in 2022 by intensified cooperation in energy and fertilizers,” a reference to India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil amid the Ukraine conflict. “ Priority is given to the Far Eastern and the Arctic dimensions, implementation of the North-South transport corridor project and an early conclusion of the FTA between the Eurasian Economic Union and India.” He said that besides the ongoing projects in connectivity, diamond processing, forestry, healthcare and pharma sector, tourism, railways, metallurgy, civil aviation, shipbuilding, oil refinery and petrochemicals, “there are plenty of new opportunities for the Indian business in the Russian market, especially against the backdrop of withdrawal of many Western companies” – amid the Western sanctions.
“Russia will further strive to strengthen international peace and ensure global security and stability with a view to establishing a fair and democratic international system that addresses global issues on the basis of collective decision-making, the rule of international law, indivisible security and the generally accepted principles of equal rights, mutual respect and non-interference in domestic affairs,” he concluded. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar extended Russia Day greetings to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. In a tweet, he said: “Greetings to FM Sergey Lavrov and the Government and people of the Russian Federation on their National Day. “We take forward our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”