Russian Ambassador Bullish about Development of India-Russia Relations in 2020

             

— By Vinay Shukla

 

DishaMoscow New Delhi : In his year-ender press conference here the Russian Ambassador to New Delhi has expressed confidence in further development of Indo-Russian relations in the New Year 2020.

 

Here follow Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev’s remarks on the Russian-lndian Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership in 2019

As the end of the 2019 is approaching, it is a good time to discuss what we have achieved in the course of ever-expanding development of the Russian-Indian special and privileged strategic partnership. And it is also a good time to look what next achievements we are hopeful to reach in 2020.

In 2019, our time-tested friendship has witnessed extraordinary developments culminated in the game-changing XX Summit in Vladivostok in September.

In an extremely turbulent global environment, our partnership has withstood negative influence and challenges posed by attempts to undermine international strategic stability and illegal unilateral and politically motivated actions.

In 2019 constructive dialogue between Russia and India as well as other likeminded countries in the UN, G20, BRICS, SCO, East-Asia Summits made a huge contribution to the establishment of truly multipolar world order, strengthening of the United Nations and international law. We will further continue it on the basis of commonly recognized principles of international behavior, such as non-interference in domestic affairs and mutual respect.

We are of a strong opinion that only together, by promoting an inclusive and unified agenda, we can find solutions for global and regional threats to avoid any alienation lines. This is an important pre-condition for sustainable development

Our Leaders, President Putin and Prime Minister Modi are expected to meet many times in 2020 at celebrations on 9‘h of May in Moscow’s Red Square dedicated to the 75‘h anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, BRICS and SCO Summits under the Russian Chairmanship in these both vital platforms, in the format of RIC and, of course, at the next bilateral Summit to be held in India.

Summit and upcoming intense ministerial level discussions will present opportunities for making new solid steps in bilateral trade and investment, energy, military and technical, space, science and technology, innovation, diamond, film industry, culture and tourism as well as inter-regional cooperation.

We will continue implementation of the flagship project the Russian

designed Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant based in Tamil Nadu, expanding

localization and joint production as well as cooperation in third countries.

2 We are about to reach a new level of energy security partnership by increasing

oil and natural gas supplies by introducing long-term arrangements in this regard as well as deepening investment cooperation in India and Russia, taking into account lucrative opportunities in the Russian Arctic offered to Indian companies.

We are aimed to re-establish the direct Vladivostok-Chennai maritime route, to raise the efiiciency of the Noxth~South Transport Corridor.

In 2020 we are hopeful about an early conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and India, a next round of the Russian-lndian Strategic Economic Dialogue with the focus on transport, agriculture, small and medium enterprises, industrial collaboration and digital transformation, funher extension of the use of national currencies in trade.

We see much potential for cross-sector cooperation Springing from such Indian national programs as Make in India, Digital India, Smart Cities, as there is a lot of common ground and mutually enriching experience. We are examining ambitious projects in metallurgy and engineering, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, transport, e-govemance, information technologies and many other.

We will continue our military and technical cooperation based on mutual commitment to timely and successful implementation of the contracts exceeding USD 14.5 bn as well as the Inter-Govemmental Agreement aimed at pushing forward joint development and production of military equipment and spare parts. We move to a great scope of localization of production up to 80 percent, with possibility for the joint entering the third countries.

We look forward to next rounds of joint military exercises after we recently completed one of the largest tri-services exercise INDRA-2019 here in India. We will further develop our military dialogue and deepen counter-terrorism cooperation bilaterally and in the framework of BRICS, SCO, RIC and other relevant formats.

Dear friends! Our plans for 2020 are based on clear instructions by our Leaders to bring our bilateral and global partnership to new heights. This is vital for the people of our two friendly nations.

Thank you so much for your support! Wish all of you a very happy and

prosperous New Year, the best of health and every success!