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'Big three' hold key Delhi talks 'Big three' hold key Delhi talks
(about 6 hours later)
The foreign ministers of India, China and Russia are meeting in the Indian capital, Delhi, to discuss terrorism, drug trafficking and Afghanistan. The foreign ministers of India, China and Russia have met in the Indian capital, Delhi, to discuss terrorism, drug trafficking and Afghanistan.
They are also assessing developments in Iran, Iraq and North Korea. An Indian foreign ministry statement said the meeting discussed key global issues, including the importance of the United Nations.
The statement said the three countries agreed on the need to make the UN more effective, reflecting global realities.
They also agreed to meet more regularly and strengthen three-way co-operation.
'More effective'
"We shared our thoughts on the political, economic and security aspects of the global situation, the present world order and recent developments in various areas of mutual concern," a statement by the Indian foreign ministry said.
India and China enjoy vastly improved relations
"We agreed that co-operation rather than confrontation should govern approaches to regional and global affairs."
Correspondents say that India's ongoing campaign for a permanent seat on the UN security council was not mentioned in the closing statement, but the three countries did acknowledge the need for UN reform by calling for it to be made "more effective".
Representatives of the three also stressed that their interaction would contribute to strengthening peace, security and stability in their region and the rest of the world.
"There was coincidence of views against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and on the need to address financing of terrorism and its linkages with narco-trafficking," the closing statement said.
The three countries also assessed developments in Iran, Iraq and North Korea.
The relationship between the three countries was first proposed by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov during a visit to Delhi in 1998.The relationship between the three countries was first proposed by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov during a visit to Delhi in 1998.
This is the second such talks between the ministers to focus on a number of international issues. This is the second such gathering of ministers focussing on a number of international issues.
The foreign ministers of the three countries last met in Vladivostok in Russia in 2005. The foreign ministers of the three states last met in Vladivostok in Russia in 2005.
"As Russia's relations .. with China grew deeper, India-China relations .. normalised [and] Beijing and New Delhi manifested mounting interest in contacts with Russia in tripartite format on a wide range of matters of mutual interest..," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin was quoted saying by the Itar-Tass news agency ahead of the meeting. "As Russia's relations .. with China grew deeper, India-China relations... normalised [and] Beijing and New Delhi manifested mounting interest in contacts with Russia in tripartite format on a wide range of matters of mutual interest," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin was quoted as saying by the Itar-Tass news agency ahead of the meeting.
The Indian and Chinese foreign ministers on Tuesday agreed on better air links and visa restrictions. The Indian and Chinese foreign ministers on Tuesday discussed better air links and easing visa restrictions.
'Mature dialogue'
Tuesday's meeting was the first contact between Delhi and Beijing since China conducted a satellite-attacking missile test last month.
Officials say that Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee, discussed how to strengthen regional cooperation and set up a mechanism to manage issues related to shared rivers.
President Putin had lengthy talks with India last year.President Putin had lengthy talks with India last year.
"The discussions earlier today were extensive and wide-ranging, covering regional, bilateral and global issues," India's ambassador to China, Nirupama Rao, told reporters in Delhi on Tuesday. That meeting was the first contact between Delhi and Beijing since China conducted a test of a missile capable of attacking satellites last month.
"What you see unfolding before you is a very mature dialogue that is taking place between two equal partners," she said. Officials say that Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee, discussed how to strengthen regional co-operation and set up a mechanism to manage issues related to shared rivers.
Mr Li arrived ahead of Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov for Wednesday's talks involving the three nations. The Chinese delegation made a statement on the test during the talks, India's ambassador to China, Nirupama Rao, said.
The Chinese delegation made a statement on the test during the talks, Ms Rao said.
"They stressed that China was against the weaponisation and militarisation of outer space and that the test conducted, according to them, was of a purely technological and scientific nature," she said."They stressed that China was against the weaponisation and militarisation of outer space and that the test conducted, according to them, was of a purely technological and scientific nature," she said.
The test drew sharp responses from Canberra, Washington, Tokyo and Delhi, with several Indian officials and leaders warning against the militarisation of outer space.The test drew sharp responses from Canberra, Washington, Tokyo and Delhi, with several Indian officials and leaders warning against the militarisation of outer space.
Border rowBorder row
Mr Li and his Indian host, Pranab Mukherjee, also discussed the border dispute that led to the 1962 conflict between the two countries, Indian officials said.Mr Li and his Indian host, Pranab Mukherjee, also discussed the border dispute that led to the 1962 conflict between the two countries, Indian officials said.
Correspondents say that a formal ceasefire line was never established after the war, but the border has remained mostly peaceful after agreements were signed in 1993 and 1996.Correspondents say that a formal ceasefire line was never established after the war, but the border has remained mostly peaceful after agreements were signed in 1993 and 1996.
Russia is looking to sell India 120 MiG-35 fighters President Putin had lengthy talks with India last year.
India says that China occupies 38,000 square kms (14,670 square miles) of Indian territory in the disputed region of Kashmir which it says was illegally ceded to China by Pakistan in the 1950s.India says that China occupies 38,000 square kms (14,670 square miles) of Indian territory in the disputed region of Kashmir which it says was illegally ceded to China by Pakistan in the 1950s.
China in turn, claims 90,000 square kms in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. China in turn, claims 90,000 sq kms in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
During a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to India in November, the two sides agreed to give priority to a resolution of the border issue.During a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to India in November, the two sides agreed to give priority to a resolution of the border issue.
"The two sides noted with satisfaction the progress on the dialogue between the two special representatives on the boundary question," Ms Rao said."The two sides noted with satisfaction the progress on the dialogue between the two special representatives on the boundary question," Ms Rao said.
"They reiterated the decision taken by the leaders of the two countries that the special representatives should further intensify their efforts.""They reiterated the decision taken by the leaders of the two countries that the special representatives should further intensify their efforts."
Last month, special representatives of both countries - appointed in 2003 - held another round of talks in Delhi to resolve the border dispute.Last month, special representatives of both countries - appointed in 2003 - held another round of talks in Delhi to resolve the border dispute.