Russian FM Lavrov hopeful of early resumption of Russia-India-China trialogue

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday said he expects the resumption of the Russia-India-China (RIC) trialogue soon, citing signs of improvement in ties between New Delhi and Beijing.

The RIC troika has been frozen since the deadly Galwan Valley standoff between the militaries of India and China in 2020.

Speaking at the annual "Primakov Readings", a meeting of experts of international relations and world economy from 40 countries including India, Lavrov noted the importance and potential of "a particularly privileged strategic partnership with India."


He recalled the legacy of former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, who initiated the formation of the bureaucracy-free RIC troika in the 1990s.

"It has met several times over the past years. Our meetings have been on pause for a while, first, because of the pandemic and later because of the escalation on the India-China border. Reportedly, the situation is getting better, and we expect RIC to resume its work soon," he said.

The military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020 and a deadly clash at the Galwan Valley in June that year resulted in a severe strain in ties between India and China.

The face-off effectively ended following completion of the disengagement process from the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang under an agreement finalised on October 21.

Lavrov also said that Russia-China relations are a factor of stability in the huge Eurasian landmass home to several civilisations.