'Dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan ...'

Full text of the India - Russia, Joint Statement issued on the conclusion of the Prime Minister's visitto Russia.

During his present visit to Russia, the Prime Minister of India was accompanied by Ministers and seniorofficials, besides a 90-member high-profile and well-represented business and industrial delegation from Indiacomprising prominent members and leadership of the apex Indian industry and trade chambers, such as Federationof Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Indian Industry, Associated Chamber of Commerceand All India Association of Industries.

The Prime Minister of India addressed a meeting of distinguished scientists and intellectuals at the RussianAcademy of Sciences.

A ‘Joint Declaration on Global Challenges and Threats to World Security and Stability’ was signed by thePrime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation during the visit. Based on the profoundunderstanding of each other’s interests and concerns, the document has further reinforced the commitment ofthe two countries to work closely together in meeting the new threats and challenges faced by India, Russiaand the world as a whole. A number of other bilateral agreements were also signed to further augment thedevelopment of Indo-Russian cooperation in a wide variety of areas of mutual interest.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the useful practice of holding regular annual Summits, as also thefrequent and regular exchanges and interactions at Ministerial and other levels. Both sides recognised thesignificant contribution that intense bilateral interaction at all levels makes to further developing theirstrategic partnership and wide-ranging dialogue to mutual benefit. The two sides reiterated the need tofurther continue, expand and consolidate the excellent political contacts between the two countries. Theyagreed that focused, detailed and regular bilateral Foreign Office level consultations at regular intervals ona large number of regional and international issues have been particularly meaningful and productive.

Both sides reaffirmed the centrality of a vibrant and robust economic and commercial engagement to theirstrategic partnership. Both sides agreed that the Joint Declaration on Strengthening and Enhancing Economic,Scientific and Technological Cooperation, signed during the last summit in December 2002, provided a broadframework as well as a roadmap towards revitalisation of trade and investment ties. The two countries tooknote of the important developments since the signing of the Joint Economic Declaration. They welcomed therevival and meeting of the Joint Business Council and the holding of an Indian Trade Exhibition, withparticipation of more than 200 Indian companies, in Moscow in February 2003.

The Joint Economic Declaration had acknowledged the essential central role of the Indo-Russian InterGovernmental Commission (IRIGC) in overseeing and coordinating the implementation of the provisions of theJoint Declaration. Through its nine Plenary sessions and a number of functional meetings of its 12 specialisedWorking Groups, the IRIGC has proved to be an important vehicle to initiate and promote bilateral cooperationin diverse areas. The two sides welcomed the results of the Commission’s 9th Session held in Moscow in May2003. They positively assessed the developments in various areas of cooperation including rough diamonds,agricultural products and ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy.

The two sides emphasized the need to jointly find new ways and means to further strengthen bilateral trade andeconomic relations, including by promoting investments and trade as well as removing trade barriers. Theleaders agreed to accord high priority to discussing and formulating policies to encourage and facilitatemutually beneficial interaction between the private sectors of the two countries. To this end, the sidesagreed to devise a long-term strategic approach taking into account the mutually complementary strengths ofthe two countries, the changes anticipated in the nature of bilateral economic ties and the emerging trends atthe global level.

Hope was expressed that more frequent interaction between the business communities of the two countrieswould lead to an enhanced level of understanding between them on each other’s existing potential andemerging capabilities. The sides agreed to consolidate the practice of organising and participating inexhibitions in each other’s countries on a regular basis, especially in key areas of bilateral economicinteraction including textiles, leather, information technology and telecommunication, tourism, foodprocessing, tea and tobacco, automobile components, power, construction, etc. Both sides expressed the hopethat the visit of a high level Russian business delegation at the invitation of Federation of Indian Chambersof Commerce and Industry during the India International Trade Fair in November 2003 will further catalysebilateral economic interaction. The two sides also welcomed the re-opening of the office of the Confederationof Indian Industry in Moscow.

Both sides reiterated their decision to hold at an early date the first meeting of an Inter-Governmental TaskForce which will study the issue of utilisation of Rupee debt fund payable to the Russian Federation for thecredit of the former USSR and the Russian Federation for investments in both countries in mutually beneficialand priority sectors and the issue of settlement of mutual financial obligations. Utilisation of the debtfunds for investment purposes will give a new impetus to bilateral Indo-Russian economic cooperation.

Both India and Russia represent expanding market economies that have achieved high growth rates in recentyears. Economic growth and rapid globalisation have led to emergence of new capabilities as well as newavenues for meaningful collaboration. In order to enable the business sectors of both countries to grasp newpossibilities for cooperation, the sides considered it essential to ensure sharing of information on a regularbasis. To this end, the sides agreed to facilitate early establishment of an Indio-Russian Business Centreduring 2004 with the assistance of the Joint Business Council and their other apex trade and industry bodies.

The bilateral trade basket has shown encouraging signs of expansion. While both sides have striven toconsolidate existing trade in traditional items, there has been growing interest in trading in new items suchas engineering goods, automobile and components, plastic products, chemicals, IT and telecom goods.Consolidation and expansion of trade requires understanding of national standards and certificationregulations. Such an understanding is also important for encouraging investment. Both sides, therefore, agreedto schedule a joint meeting of the concerned statutory bodies of both countries during 2004 for discussing andharmonising national standardization and certification regulations relevant to trade and investment, with aview to removing technical barriers to trade between the two countries.

The North South Transport Corridor Project has the potential to radically transform the existingconnectivity between India and the Russia Federation. Both sides noted with satisfaction the effort exertedtowards effective operationalisation of this project during 2003, and underlined their commitment towardsacceleration of this process through improvement of infrastructural links and harmonisation andstandardisation of procedures. Both sides agreed to strive to actively involve their business sectors in thisendeavour.

Enhancement of contacts between the businessmen requires establishment of a mutually coordinated visa regime.Both sides agreed to consider liberalising travel laws for businesspersons of each other’s countryaccredited with their nationally recognised trade bodies. The two sides emphasised the importance of increasedpeople-to-people exchanges in the process of sustaining economic growth and development of their bilateralrelations. In this context, they recognised the vast potential to build on the significant increase in theflow of tourists from Russia to India during the past year. Both sides agreed to encourage greater contactsbetween the tourism and hospitality sectors to sustain the growing interest.

Both sides acknowledged that increased cooperation between financial institutions was crucial to facilitatinggrowth in investment and trade. The setting up of a commercial bank in Moscow by State Bank of India andCanara Bank was welcomed. Both sides expressed their readiness to facilitate the setting up of at least onebranch of a commercial bank of India and Russia in each other’s markets by the year 2005. They alsounderlined the need for effective and expeditious use of Lines of Credit extended to the Russian Banks by EXIMBank of India.

The Indian side reaffirmed its support for early accession of Russia to the World Trade Oraganisation (WTO).The first Indo-Russian Inter-Ministerial Consultations on economic issues and WTO held in New Delhi in March2003 marked a good initiative and both sides agreed to continue with such consultations in Geneva and in eachother’s capital. The two sides agreed to strengthen their coordination and cooperation in this regard and toshare experience on economic reform and liberalisation in the two countries. Both sides also agreed tocontinue the process of consultations on various tariff and non-tariff issues relating to bilateral trade.

Both sides reiterated that mutually beneficial cooperation in energy was an area of good potential. In thisregard, they welcomed the initiative to set up a Business Dialogue Forum on Energy, which will enable the twocountries to regularly exchange views on this vital area of economic activity with the view to, inter alia,evolving a comprehensive joint approach to foster a sustainable and reliable energy future in mutual interest.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress of the project of construction of the nuclear power plantat Kudankulam. Their discussions in this area explored the possibilities of expanding cooperation in peacefuluses of nuclear energy.

The sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing cooperation in the field of space. Given the existingpotential, both sides reiterated their commitment to further expand cooperation for the development of spacetechnology for peaceful purposes. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Indian Space ResearchOrganisation and the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos) on Cooperation in the Exploration andUse of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes, which charts out future areas of cooperation in this field.

Both sides noted with satisfaction the progress being made in expanded bilateral military technicalcooperation, including joint research, development and training, as well as inter-services exchanges. Suchcooperation is mutually beneficial and meets the national interests of the two countries, besides promotingpeace and stability at regional and international level. They also expressed confidence that the visit of theIndian Defence Minister to the Russian Federation in January 2003, during which he co-Chaired the 3rd Sessionof the Indo-Russian Inter-government al Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation, and the forthcomingvisit of the Russian Minister of Defence to India, expected to take place towards the end of November 2003,will further strengthen their cooperation in this vital area of bilateral interaction. Both sides alsowelcomed holding of the joint naval exercises by India and the Russian Federation in 2003 and agreed that suchexercises and service-to-service interaction should be held on a regular basis.

Both sides expressed satisfaction at the progress of bilateral cooperation in the field of science andtechnology within the overall framework of the Integrated Long-Term Programme (ILTP). In the series ofestablishment of joint science and technology centres, they welcomed the signing of the MoUs on theestablishment of joint centres on gashydrates and seismology in India. Signing of the Protocol on furthercooperation between Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and Government of India’s Department of Science andTechnology and an Agreement between RAS and Indian National Science Academy will further bolster cooperationin this sphere. It was agreed to keep the focus on specific projects and objectives and to strive forpromoting commercial benefits from joint endeavours in the area of science and technology.

Both sides reiterated the contribution and importance of the traditional cultural and people-to-peoplecontacts in consolidating the long-standing and deep-rooted civilisational ties between the two countries.They welcomed the successful organisation of the Days of Russian Culture in India from 1-8 November 2003 andhoped that this event and the organisation of Days of Indian Culture in Russia in 2004 will serve as means ofbringing the two peoples further closer. The significance of inter-governmental framework of support forfacilitating intense interaction in this sphere, including through Cultural Exchange Programmes, wasunderlined.

Both sides reaffirmed their keen interest to implement the decision to jointly publish documents onIndo-Russian relations and welcomed the signing of a Protocol between Ministry of External Affairs of Indiaand the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in this regard.

The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on regional and international issues of mutual interest andconcern. They noted a high degree of mutual understanding and close identity of views.

India and the Russian Federation are convinced that their strategic partnership has served as a factor inglobal peace and security. India and Russia, as strategic partners, reaffirmed their commitment to cooperatebilaterally and at international fora towards the establishment of a multipolar and just world order based onsovereign equality of all States, their territorial integrity and non-interference in their internal affairs.Threats to global security and strategic stability should be dealt with taking into account the legitimatesecurity considerations of all States.

Both sides supported the continued disarmament process and multilateral negotiations aimed, inter alia, atnuclear disarmament. Both sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthen their systems of exportcontrols without adversely affecting the peaceful application of dual use materials and technologies.

The two sides acknowledged the importance of the central role of the United Nations in the preservation ofworld security and stability in accordance with its Charter. They confirmed their opposition to unilateral useor threat of use of force in violation of the UN Charter. Both sides emphasized the need for reform of the UNsystem to further strengthen it and agreed to work towards promoting an early consensus in this regard.

Both sides agreed on the need to expand the UN Security Council to make it more representative and moreeffective. Assessing India as an important and influential member of the international community, the RussianFederation reaffirmed its support to India as a deserving and strong candidate for the permanent membership inan expanded UN Security Council.

There was a complete identity of views of India and the Russian Federation on the acute threat posed byinternational terrorism to the two countries and to international peace, stability and security. Both sidesnoted with deep concern the growing transnational linkages of terrorist organizations and also the role oftransborder organized crime and illicit trade in arms and drugs in supporting terrorism, particularly byfinancial means.

The sides strongly condemned terrorism everywhere and called upon the international community in accordancewith UNSCR 1373 and 1456 to take decisive action against this global menace, and against those who aid andabet terrorism across borders, harbour and provide sanctuary to terrorists and provide them with financialmeans, training or patronage. They reiterated that international action against terrorism cannot be selective,but has to be uniform, comprehensive, continuous and multifaceted.

Russia expressed support for India’s initiative at the UN General Assembly on "measures to preventterrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction". Both sides expressed their deep concern on thegrowing risk of the use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists and emphasised the need for wideinternational cooperation in combating it.