New York 
September 20, 2005

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External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lvavrov, met together this morning at the Chinese Permanent Mission in New York for their annual trilateral meeting during the UNGA session.

The Foreign Ministers recalled their successful stand alone meeting at Vladivostok in June 2005 and agreed to have the next meeting in New Delhi in 2006 at a mutually convenient date. They endorsed the proposal, made by India, to convene a trilateral Business Conference, which could coincide, if possible, with the meeting of the Foreign Ministers. 

External Affairs Minister congratulated the Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers, on the successful outcome of the 6-Party Talks on the DPRK nuclear issue and applauded the role they had played in this regard. 

The Chinese Foreign Minister welcomed India’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and said that this provided yet another forum for the 3 countries to strengthen their trilateral cooperation in various fields. The 3 Foreign Ministers agreed that challenges of terrorism and drug trafficking, which have been on the agenda of the trilateral meetings, should also be pursued under the aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. 

The External Affairs Minister identified energy cooperation as a significant area of cooperation among the 3 countries. The Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers welcomed the initiative taken by India to convene a Round Table Conference of North and Central Asian Oil Supplies and Principal Buyers in New Delhi on 25th November, 2005 and confirmed that their Ministers in charge of Oil and Natural Gas would participate. They agreed that such a forum would provide an opportunity to explore cooperation in a vital sector both on a trilateral basis as well as in the larger region of Central and North Asia. 

The Foreign Ministers reviewed progress on UN reform, including Security Council reform. They welcomed the Outcome Document, but agreed that considerable follow up work was required in implementing the different aspects of reform incorporated in the Document. They agreed to work together closely in this regard. 

The Ministers reviewed the latest developments on the Iranian nuclear issue. They expressed their preference for a consensus approach and have agreed that their delegations at the IAEA in Vienna should remain in close touch and work together. 

The External Affairs Minister and the Russian Foreign Minister thanked their Chinese counterpart for hosting the trilateral meeting and extending warm and friendly hospitality to the participating delegations. 

The meeting proceeded in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.