Bangalore: The foreign ministers of India, Russia and China on Tuesday began a meeting to explore business opportunities in key sectors and collaboration on playing a greater role in world affairs.
India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will exchange views on regional and international issues as well.
This is the ninth trilateral meeting. India's IT capital, Bangalore, has hosted a major international meeting 23 years after the second South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in November 1986 under then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Krishna is from Karnataka and has served as Chief Minister of the state.
"The foreign ministers of the three countries will discuss trade and business opportunities in infrastructure, energy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and nanotechnology for mutual benefit," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said on Monday evening.
"Some of the global issues on the agenda are climate change, world trade and the global financial crisis from which the world is gradually emerging," Prakash added.
The three countries account for 20 per cent of the global landmass and 39 per cent of the global population.
The interaction is being held against the backdrop of bilateral meetings Krishna and Lavrov had during the 15th session of the Indo-Russian inter-governmental commission in Moscow on October 21; and between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at Hua Hin, Thailand, on the margins of the Indo-ASEAN summit on October 24.
"The process also encourages academic exchanges. India enjoys most important and time-tested relations with Russia based upon mutual trust, continuity and understanding," Prakash said.
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