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![Arguing for stronger ties, Wang noted that China, Russia and India stride two continents, link three oceans and have 40 per cent of the world population as well as over 22 per cent of world territorial surface [Xinhua Images]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/lavrov-khurshid-wang-300x199.jpg)
Arguing for stronger ties, Wang noted that China, Russia and India stride two continents, link three oceans and have 40 per cent of the world population as well as over 22 per cent of world territorial surface [Xinhua Images]
Wang had met his Indian and Russian counterparts, Salman Khurshid and Sergey Lavrov in New Delhi on Sunday for the RIC (Russia-India-China) Summit.
Arguing for stronger ties, Wang noted that China, Russia and India stride two continents, link three oceans and have 40 per cent of the world population as well as over 22 per cent of world territorial surface.
The three nations are already members of the BRICS bloc of the fastest growing economies.
“The three countries are global powers and emerging economies. If they work together in furthering their cooperation, not only the people of the three countries but also the whole world will benefit from such cooperation”, he said.
The Chinese foreign minister urged a three-pronged strategy for RIC.
“Firstly, increasing strategic trust and regarding each other as true strategic partner rather than rival. Secondly, coordinating in major international affairs to safeguard their own interests and promoting democratization of international relations as well as the construction of a multipolar world. Thirdly, playing a major role in building the Silk Route Economic Corridor and Asia-European Continental Bridge,” Wang said.
As reported earlier by The BRICS Post, China is throwing its growing economic weight behind linking Eurasia which could act as a strong catalyst for world growth.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had delivered a speech in Kazakhstan in September that underlined his backing for the re-establishment of the ancient Silk Route that could bind China and India to resource-rich Central Asia, a trans-Eurasian project spanning from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea.
Since ancient times, Southeast Asia has been an important hub along the historical “maritime silk road”, a commercial route on which China sold its silk and other commodities to other countries.
Meanwhile, the three sides in New Delhi also discussed Afghanistan and counter-terror measures.
The surge of violence and insurgency in Afghanistan amid foreign combat troops withdrawing, with plans to exit by the end of 2014 has fueled concerns about rising instability in the entire region.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang on Sunday said China, alongwith Russia and India, are in the favor of Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process for Kabul.
“The issue (Afghanistan) is of greatest concern to the countries in this region including China, India and Russia…We have always respected sovereign independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan,” Wang said.
Afghanistan troop casualties rose 79 per cent during key fighting months this year as the still-resistant Taliban kept up the pace of its attacks and NATO forces moved into a support role in preparation to end their combat mission, the Pentagon said on Friday last week.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on Sunday asked for “additional measures” by international community to prevent escalating security threats in Afghanistan.
“We had a very productive discussion on these issues on counter-terrorism. We do want to look together at countering drug trade that is as great a menace as terrorism and in fact intrinsically linked in many ways as it gets to finance terrorism,” Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said at a joint press conference following Sunday’s meet.
China and India have begun joint anti-terror drill in southwest China’s Sichuan Province last week.
China is stepping up its campaign against terrorism after a recent suicide attack at the Forbidden City overlooking Tiananmen square.
The Global Terrorism Index – published in December 2012 by the US and Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace think tank ranked India among the top four nations which has been a target of terror.
The Chinese foreign minister will now be attending the Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) being held in New Delhi on November 11-12.
“To strengthen strategic coordination among the three countries will also add an important guarantee to Asia-European Continent’s peace and stability,” said Wang.
The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies
