EAM Jaishankar highlights pillars of Indo-Russian ties

External affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday that supply of uranium, crude oil and coal by Russia is "important" for India and a "critical" pillar of bilateral ties.

Addressing the 25th session of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) here, Jaishankar said the two countries would also be discussing cooperation critical for India's food, energy and health security.



"Russia has emerged as a major source of fertiliser for us. Its supply of crude oil, coal and uranium are indeed important," he said in the opening remarks. He co-chaired the meet with Russia's first deputy prime minister Denis Manturov.


Jaishankar said the two countries "benefit from the trust and confidence built" over the years. "Our goal is that it needs to be more balanced and that will require addressing current constraints and undertaking facilitative efforts. Making it easier, trade should be accompanied by progress in the negotiations of the India-Eurasian Economic Union FTA."

Manturov, in his opening remarks, focused on collaboration in nuclear power, digital technologies and space exploration. He referred to the equipment required for India's first human space mission Gaganyaan. Later, he also called on the NSA and finance minister.