India to host 2 key multilateral meetings

The first will be a trilateral dialogue between foreign ministers of Russia, India and China, the second will be an Asia-Europe meet

Next week, a bevy of foreign ministers would be seen discussing growth, economic development and security here, as India plays host to two important multilateral meetings.

The first would be a trilateral dialogue between the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China, or RIC, staring November 10. This is the third time India would host the RIC foreign ministers meeting. The previous meetings were held at Delhi and Bangalore.

During the meeting, foreign ministers of the three countries are expected to discuss issues related to economic growth, development, terrorism and drug trafficking. They would also firm up their negotiating agenda for the coming World Trade Organization meeting in Bali, Indonesia, said Syed Akbaruddin, joint secretary and spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs.

The RIC foreign ministers’ dialogue started in 1996. It was aimed at discussing and strengthening issues of common interest, under the broader canvas of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) agenda.

India would also host another key meeting, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) from November 11-12.

The meeting, to be hosted by India the first time, would also be one of the largest multilateral meetings hosted by India in recent years, with 36 foreign ministers and 12 deputy foreign ministers from Asia and Europe participating. All 51 members of ASEM will be represented at the meeting.

ASEM represents about 60 per cent of the world’s population, 52 per cent of the global gross domestic product and 68 per cent of global trade.

“As the chair, India has been pushing for a fresh approach that would re-orient discussions in ASEM from dialogue towards actual tangible cooperation, taking ASEM to the next level of maturity. The approach suggested by India has been very well received by ASEM members,” said Akbaruddin.

Issues pertaining to growth and economic development are expected to dominate the meeting, with a focus on renewable energy, small and medium enterprises, education and skill development.

ASEM has, like many other fora, has primarily been a platform for political dialogue. In the past, members have discussed global issues, even when discussions on these were being held in specialised fora elsewhere.