India-Russia-China consultation to intensify: Jaishankar to visit Moscow, Wang Yi to visit New Delhi

Against the backdrop of growing uncertainty in trade ties with the United States, India is on track to intensify engagements with Russia and China in the coming days. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to visit Russia on August 21 to hold discussion with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov as officials here are preparing to host Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before that, sources here have confirmed.

“The Ministers will discuss key issues on our bilateral agenda, as well as key aspects of cooperation within international framework,” said the Russian Foreign Ministry announcing Mr Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow. Mr Jaishankar’s visit is part of the preparatory consultation for the next Russia-India annual summit for which President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India later this year.

The meeting between Mr Jaishankar and Mr Lavrov comes days after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited Russia where he met his counterpart Sergey Shoigu and had a special audience with President Putin. Soon thereafter, President Putin and Prime Minister Modi had a telephonic conversation on Friday that Mr Modi described as “detailed”.