Russia-India-China trilateral forum good mechanism for discussing global hotspot issues: China

BEIJING: Russia, India, China (RIC) trilateral forum is a "good mechanism" for exchanging views on global hotspot issues, China said today ahead of a key meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the grouping in Moscow to be attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

"We share lot of interests and concerns in the region. This is a good mechanism for the three countries to have exchange of views on international hotspot issues," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing.

Lu said though RIC shared a common feature with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), which is far more active, being emerging countries the three countries wield great influence in the international community and therefore close communication between them is necessary.

Swaraj along with Wang and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend the 14th annual meeting of RIC Ministers. The three will also hold bilateral meetings to focus on improving ties.

The RIC Ministers kicks off this year's high-level exchanges between India and China as the two countries grappled with contentious issues on China putting technical hold on India's moves at the UN to ban Masood Azhar, who headed Jaish-e-Muhammad, a group blamed for the Pathankot terrorist attack.

India has expressed its disappointment over the move and diplomats say it is casting a shadow on mutual efforts to improve ties with a host of initiatives.

Swaraj-Wang talks will take place around the same time when Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar begins his first visit to China on April 18 during which he will hold talks with top Chinese leaders and defence officials.

Soon after Parrikar's visit, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval be in China during which he is expected to hold 19th round of boundary talks with his counterpart Yang Jiechi.