'Druzhba-Dosti: A Vision for strengthening the Indian-Russian
Partnership over the next decade' - Joint Statement during the visit of
President of the Russian Federation to India
1.
The President of the Russian Federation, H.E.
Mr. Vladimir V. Putin, paid an official visit to India on December 11, 2014 at
the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, H.E. Mr.
Narendra Modi, for the 15th Annual Summit between the two countries. During the
Summit, the leaders agreed on a vision for strengthening the India-Russia
partnership over the next decade. Recognizing that the special and privileged
strategic partnership between India and Russia has been built on the strong
foundation of mutual trust, bilateral understanding and unique people-to-people
affinities, the leaders emphasized that the time has come for a significant
broad-basing of bilateral cooperation to carry the friendship between the
countries to a qualitatively new level.
2.
India deeply values the monumental contributions
made by Russia to India’s developmental and defence needs in the second half of
the twentieth century. The Declaration on Strategic Partnership of 2000 and the
Annual Summits it initiated, have allowed the two countries to redefine and
strengthen their partnership in the twenty-first century.
3.
The leaders expressed confidence that a strong
bilateral strategic partnership advances the national interests of the two
countries and contributes to a more stable and secure world order. The two
countries have resolved to strengthen this partnership over the next decade
through concrete initiatives in diverse areas and to make the bilateral
institutional dialogue architecture more result-oriented and forward-looking.
While both leaders will continue to meet on the margins of multilateral events,
the Annual Summits will review and supervise the progress in the realization of
this vision for India-Russian partnership.
Energy
4.
Acknowledging natural complementarities in the
area of energy and India's quest for energy security, the sides will expand
manifold bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, including oil and gas,
electric power production, nuclear energy, renewable energy sources, and energy
efficiency.
5.
The bilateral program ‘on enhanced cooperation
in oil and gas sphere’ underlines the serious commitments of the two sides to
develop cooperation in this area of great promise. The leaders envisage broader
collaboration between hydrocarbon companies of the two countries in oil and gas
exploration and production as well as in LNG projects and supplies. The sides
will promote natural gas utilization as an abundant and environmentally
friendly source of energy for diverse purposes in their economies, including
motor fuel and feedstock. It is expected that Indian companies will strongly
participate in projects related to new oil and gas fields in the territory of
the Russian Federation. The sides will study the possibilities of building a
hydrocarbon pipeline system, connecting the Russian Federation with India. They
will also examine avenues for participation in petrochemical projects in each
other's country and in third countries. The leaders have encouraged Indian and
Russian companies to pursue greater participation in each other's power
generation projects, as also in supply of equipment, technology for enhanced
oil recoveries and extraction of coal, including coking coal.
6.
The two countries view nuclear energy as a
clean, reliable and viable source of energy. They have a joint vision for
cooperation in nuclear energy, aimed at serial construction of nuclear power
units, based on Russian design, as also on and existing and possible future
bilateral agreements. India and Russia will expand their cooperation in science
and technology, industry, localization of equipment and spares, uranium mining,
fabrication and supply of nuclear fuel, management of spent fuel and in other
aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle. Towards this objective, the Indian side
agreed to expeditiously identify a second site, in addition to Kudankulam, for
the construction of the Russian-designed nuclear power units in India.
7.
India and Russia will work together to further
strengthen regional multilateral cooperation in the field of energy. In this
context, the sides recognize that the first Asia-Pacific Energy Forum (APEF),
held in the city of Vladivostok in May 2013, has laid the foundation for an
enhanced regional energy dialogue under the auspices of the UN Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). They will be guided by
the provisions of the ‘APEF Ministerial Declaration’ and ‘Plan of Action on
Regional Cooperation for Enhanced Energy Security and the Sustainable Use of
Energy in Asia’, endorsed by UNESCAP Resolution 70/9.
8.
The energy efficiency agencies of the sides will
engage more closely to exchange experiences and best practices. India and
Russia will also cooperate in the development and efficient use of renewable
energy.
Technology and Innovation
9.
Noting the synergies between national efforts by
the two countries to develop a knowledge-economy powered by technology and
innovation, India and Russia will increase collaboration in joint design,
development, manufacturing and marketing of technology-driven products and
scientific interaction between the two countries. In particular, such
cooperation will extend to space applications, defence technologies, aviation,
new materials, communications and information technology.
10.
The two leaders see limitless opportunities for
bilateral cooperation in outer space to advance societal applications and
scientific knowledge. The space agencies of India and Russia will engage more
actively on space technology applications, space transportation, satellite
navigation, space science and planetary exploration. In 2015, the two countries
will commemorate the 40 years of the launch of Indian satellite 'Aryabhata'
using Soyuz launch vehicle. By the time of the 50th anniversary of the launch,
the leaders would expect significant collaboration between India and Russia on
peaceful uses of outer space.
11.
Defence cooperation between India and Russia is
founded on deep mutual trust and promotes wider peace and security. The two
countries have already moved to a phase of joint design and development of
defence systems. The sides recognize the virtually unlimited opportunities for
enhancing this cooperation, increasingly based on joint research and
development, joint manufacturing, technology sharing and collaborative research
in futuristic technologies, in accordance with existing agreements on
military-technical cooperation. To this end, India has permitted foreign direct
investment in the defence sector up to 49 per cent. The sides will exploit
these opportunities optimally and enrich bilateral interaction through regular joint
military exercises, training in each other's services institutions and
institutionalized consultations between the armed forces.
12.
The sides will intensify bilateral scientific
and technological interaction to increasingly focus on innovative, high-technology
sectors and their commercial applications. They will further develop various
support mechanisms for joint research. Their bilateral scientific and
technological collaboration will cover frontier areas, such as environmental
science, power sector (including alternative sources of energy), energy
efficiency and energy security, information and communication technologies,
nanotechnology and new materials, engineer science, bio-energy,
nano-biotechnology, bio-equipment and affordable diagnosing equipment for
healthcare and agriculture. It will be aimed at creating institutional linkages
between scientific research institutions of the two countries. In view of the
importance of safeguarding food security, the sides would expect to conduct
further joint research in the fields of horticulture and biotechnology. They
will exchange scientific and technological manpower to build capacity for
exchange of knowledge most relevant to the economies of the two countries.
Further academic exchanges will also be promoted through schemes for visits by
scientists that will enhance human resource capacity building in the science
and technology sector. An action plan on this subject will be prepared.
13.
India and Russia recognize the importance of the
Arctic and the contributions in promoting cooperative activities to address
Arctic issues by the Arctic Council, given that Russia is a member and India
has joined as an observer in May 2013. The sides agreed to facilitate
scientific cooperation to study the challenges (like melting ice, climate
change, marine life and biodiversity), facing the rapidly-changing Arctic
region.
14.
Given the strategic importance of rare earth
minerals and their economic and commercial utility, the sides will enhance
cooperation in rare earth minerals’ mining, technology development and
research. They will explore joint development of technologies for processing
rare earth materials.
Expanded economic engagement
15.
The sides will promote bilateral economic, trade
and investment cooperation to contribute to the enhanced role of emerging
markets in the world economy and to foster sustainable, balanced and inclusive
global growth.
16.
The two leaders recognized the enormous untapped
potential in bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation. The two
governments will intensify efforts to identify measures to facilitate the full
realization of this potential. They have encouraged Indian and Russian
enterprises to explore more fully new opportunities arising from increasing
national focus on infrastructure development and expanding the manufacturing
sector. It is expected that Russian companies will utilize the opportunities in
a wide range of Indian sectors and will ‘Make in India’.
17.
The sides will encourage payments in national
currencies for bilateral trade. The Working Group established for this purpose
will make recommendations on eliminating the existing barriers and stimulating
transactions in national currencies. The leaders agreed that the initiative
launched by India and the Eurasian Economic Commission for a Joint Study Group
(JSG) to explore the feasibility of a comprehensive economic cooperation
agreement covering trade in goods, services, investment cooperation, movement
of natural persons and mutual recognition of standards, is of great importance for
bilateral economic cooperation. The Russian side will support the productive
work of the JSG so that this Group completes its study within an optimal
timeframe. The leaders noted that the International North-South Transport
Corridor can vastly improve the efficiency of bilateral trade by significantly
reducing transit time and freight costs. India and Russia will work together to
conclude the necessary multilateral arrangements and outreach to step up the
use of this corridor at the earliest. The leaders noted with satisfaction the
progress made in promoting direct trade of diamonds between our two countries
and particularly in facilitating enhanced diamond trade through diamond
exchanges in India. These measures should expand the share of direct diamond
exports from Russia to India significantly.
18.
India-Russia mutual investment should become a
new point of growth in bilateral economic cooperation. There will be constant
focus on the agreed plans for bilateral investment cooperation, the sides will
take all necessary measures to support successful implementation of such plans.
An emphasis will be laid on promoting Russian investments in India in major
infrastructure projects like DMIC, Smart Cities and Freight Corridors, as well
as in broader sectors like telecom, power and roads. In Russia, Indian
participation in Industrial Parks and technology platforms, in sectors like
pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, coal and energy will be encouraged. The sides
will encourage specialized investment funds to invest in these sectors and in
the joint manufacturing of high technology products. In this context, they
welcome the initiative of a direct investment fund of US$ 2 billion between
Rosnano and suitable Indian investment partners for implementation of high-tech
projects. They will protect the legitimate interests of investing companies. In
particular, the sides will enter into discussions to renegotiate the existing
bilateral agreement for protection and promotion of investments, initially
agreed on 23 December 1994, to provide for the protection of foreign
investments in each other’s territory.
19.
The leaders noted that the governments of the
two countries and their industry representatives should join hands to
disseminate information about business opportunities in each other’s countries.
The sides also agreed on mutual trade facilitation measures, particularly with
regards to simplified customs procedures. In this context, they agreed to
finalize shortly a protocol on a "Green Corridor” project. The leaders
also invited companies of the two countries to realize the substantial
opportunities in engineering; pharmaceuticals; information and communication
technology; chemicals; fertilizers; metallurgy; agro and animal products; and
transport.
20.
The sides will promote further strengthening and
increasing the effectiveness of our bilateral inter-regional cooperation. They
noted with satisfaction that many cities and regions in the two countries have
established linkages (Cities: New Delhi-Moscow and St. Petersburg; Bangalore-Novosibirsk;
Chandigarh-Ufa; Chennai-Volgograd; Hyderabad-Kazan; Kolkata-Vladivostok and
Yaroslavl; Kochi-Pyatigorsk; Mumbai-St. Petersburg; Pune-Yekaterinburg;
Panjim-Krasnodar; Thiruvanathapuram-Stavropol; Thrissur-Yessentuki. Regions:
Andhra Pradesh-Tatarstan; Gujarat- Astrakhan and Tatarstan;
Haryana-Bashkortostan; Karnataka-Irkutsk, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Ugra
and Samara; Kerala-Irkutsk; Maharashtra-Siberia) for cooperation in various
fields. The leaders agreed to encourage linkages between other regions and
cities of the two countries with a view to enhance trade and investment,
tourism, cultural and people-to-people contacts. The leaders expressed
confidence that a web of linkages between these and other regions and cities
will bring substantial benefits to these regions and cities and bolster
India-Russia partnership further.
21.
With these and other initiatives, the leaders
agreed to step up efforts for enhancing bilateral trade in the coming years and
set a target of bilateral trade turnover of goods and services at US$30 billion
by the year 2025. It is expected that the level of mutual investments by then
will be over US$15 billion each way.
Global order and world peace
22.
Reaffirming their commitment to upholding the
principles of international law and promoting the central role of the UN in
international relations, India and Russia will work together to promote a
polycentric and democratic world order based on shared interests of all
countries. The two countries will work for democratization of global political,
economic, financial and social institutions so that these institutions better
represent the aspirations and interests of all segments of the international
community. India and Russia oppose economic sanctions that do not have the
approval of the United Nations Security Council.
23.
The sides reaffirmed the need for UN Security
Council reform in order to make it more representative and effective in dealing
with emerging challenges. They agree that any expansion of the Security Council
should reflect contemporary realities. In this context, the sides will work
together to ensure reforms of the UN Security Council. Russia will extend its
support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of the Council.
24.
The two countries will consult and coordinate in
multilateral fora such as G20, EAS, BRICS and RIC. Russia looks forward to
India becoming a full member of the SCO following the completion of all
required negotiations procedures. The sides support the evolution of an open,
balanced and inclusive security architecture in the Asia Pacific region based
on collective efforts, considering legitimate interests of all states of the
region and guided by respect for norms and principles of international law.
25.
The leaders condoled the loss of life in senseless
terrorist acts in recent days in Jammu & Kashmir, India and in Chechnya,
Russia. They believe that the nature and spread of international terrorism in
recent years, as demonstrated by developments in their shared neighbourhood,
require global resolve and cooperative measures of the international community
without double standards or selectivity. The threat to all humanity posed by
terrorism justifies a collaborative approach, in accordance with international
law and the Charter of the United Nations, putting aside differences and
tensions between countries and regions in other political and economic areas.
The sides agreed to work together for the adoption of the Comprehensive
Convention on International Terrorism by the 70th Anniversary Summit of the UN.
The leaders expressed hope that all safe havens and sanctuaries for terrorists
will be wiped out without delay and terrorism would be completely eradicated
from the common region within a decade.
26.
The leaders welcomed the peaceful transition of
political authority in Afghanistan and called upon the international community
to join efforts to support reconstruction and economic development in that
country and to continue capacity building of its national security forces. The
sides hope to see an Afghanistan that would within a decade flourish as a
prosperous hub for trade, industry and energy.
27.
As two states possessing advanced technologies,
India and Russia have converging interests in preventing the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction. This is reflected in their participation and
positions in international fora such as the Conference on Disarmament, IAEA,
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and stringent national export
control measures. The Russian side confirmed its support to India’s intention
to seek full membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and its readiness to
facilitate positive decision of the Group on this matter. Russia also supported
India’s interest in full membership in the MTCR and Wassenaar Arrangement.
28.
As responsible users of outer space, India and
Russia share substantive interests in the long-term sustainability of outer
space activities and in maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes. They
will work together in the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in
Vienna, the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, the UNGA First Committee in
New York and other fora to advance their shared interests.
29.
Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs) are transforming this world and playing a vital role in development. The
sides will collaborate to promote safe, secure and sustainable use of ICTs
globally, including through the UN.
30.
In the backdrop of regional issues and
conflicts, the leaders voiced their strong conviction that political dialogue
and negotiation should be the sole means of resolution of conflicts, rather
than military force.
People-to-people ties
31.
Recognizing the enormous goodwill, respect and
strong ties among the peoples of India and Russia, the sides supported
enhancing measures by the two governments to promote and support cultural
exchanges through annual festivals of culture, exchanges between cultural
institutions, think tanks, tourism promotion events and other initiatives.
32.
The sides will take steps to strengthen
education ties through facilitating and extending support to each other's
students. They supported the establishment of institutional linkages between
universities and academic institutions of the two countries. The sides will
promote in this context the development of network partnerships between
universities. Early conclusion of agreements on mutual recognition of
education, qualification and degrees should further encourage leading
universities and research institutions of India and Russia to support greater
exchanges of student research scholars, post-doctoral candidates and faculties.
33.
India and Russia will maintain close contacts
and interaction in international sports matters. The sides agreed to deepen
interaction and expand the scope of India-Russia cooperation in the field of
sports, to support an exchange of practices between sports’ federations,
scientific and research institutions, promote physical training and sports and
direct contacts between organizations of the two countries. The sides will
encourage cooperation to promote health and fitness through traditional Indian
forms of Yoga and Ayurveda, including through Yoga centres, camps and Ayurveda
centres.
34.
The Russian side welcomed the simplified visa
regime introduced by the Indian side in November, 2014 under which nationals of
Russia will be granted electronic visa on arrival at designated airports in
India. Both sides agreed to further ease visa requirements for mutual travels
of certain categories of citizens of the two countries, including business
visas. This will further enhance people-to-people contacts and boost tourism.
Bilateral perspectives
35.
The discussions and decisions of the two
leaders, as well as the detailed agreements at the bilateral dialogue have
given the leaders the confidence that objective political, economic, security
and cultural factors will propel India-Russia partnership to a level that meets
the aspirations of their people. The relationship between India and Russia has
been tested by time and will continue to be a friendship based on complete
trust that will bring happiness and prosperity to peoples of both countries.
YSKataria