New Delhi. External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar virtually chaired the 18th meeting of the foreign ministers of the Russia-India-China (RIC) grouping on 26 November. While addressing the 18th edition of the RIC meeting, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar highlighted the increased interdependence of countries due to the pandemic and stated that the need of the hour today is a unified approach towards global development.
“The Covid pandemic has shown the interdependence of an inter-connected world. The need of the hour is, therefore, ‘One Earth One Health’. That means a timely, transparent, effective, and non-discriminatory international response to global health challenges including pandemics, with equitable and affordable access to medicines and critical health supplies,” EAM said.
EAM said that he believes that cooperation in areas like trade, investment, healthcare, education, science & technology and politics, etc could significantly contribute to global growth, peace, and stability. ‘’This would be in line with our common ethos of recognizing the “World as a Family”. Our approach to global development should be human-centric and not leave anyone behind.”
Commenting on the situation in Afghanistan, EAM has emphasized that India is concerned about recent developments in that nation as a neighbor especially the suffering of the Afghan people and also stated that New Delhi supports an inclusive and representative government in Afghanistan.
Aid to Afghanistan
India has offered to deliver 50,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan to solve the drought crisis, as part of its commitment to the well-being of the Afghan people.
‘’The RIC countries must act together to guarantee that humanitarian aid reaches Afghans without delay and without being politicized. The RIC countries must coordinate their varied approaches to terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and other dangers,’’ he added.
EAM further said that India has been actively contributing to finding mutually acceptable solutions to international and regional concerns since joining the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in January this year. He stressed India believes that a multi-polar and re-balanced world based on the sovereign equality of nations and respect for international law and contemporary realities requires reformed multilateralism.
About RIC
RIC is a strategic alliance that was formed in the late 1990s under the leadership of Russian politician Yevgeny Primakov as a counterbalance to the Western alliance. The RIC countries collectively cover approximately 19% of the global geography and account for over 33% of global GDP.