New Delhi: After the BRICS Summit in Kazan on October 22-24, 2024, Ambassador of Russian Federation to India, Denis Alipov said, ‘We have welcomed the meeting between leaders of India & China in Kazan,’ and that Russia has played no role in organizing the meeting. He said, ‘Russia has always wished that India and China maintain stable and good relations for the indispensable security situation in Eurasia region and the world. We have never participated or advised in any bilateral relations, never interfered in issues between India and China.’ He said, ‘It is important that India & China speak in one voice.’ This came in the background of October 23, 2024 on Modi Xi talks on the agreement on patrolling and disengagement along the borders in the north eastern sector in Kashmir.
On BRICS becoming a counterweight to G7, Alipov said, ‘BRICS is not about competition, not about rival groupings. It is not anti West but non West. Unlike other institutions and western organizations BRICS is not against anyone and don’t want to replace any existing systems.’
Speaking on US sanctions Alipov said, ‘Unilateral sanctions against Russia was wrong. Today its Russia, tomorrow it could be China & day after India. Alipov stressed the need for India, Russia, China, ‘to have an equal voice in various issues of global financial cooperation.’
On the Western domination the Russian Envoy said, ‘We try to enhance the voice of developing countries like the IMF, other financial and business led institutions. In each of these, the western world is so dominating and influencing other organizations.’ He said, ‘India should not be restricted to working only with US-aligned countries. Today it is necessary for India to settle its relationship with Russia. Tomorrow the US might ask India to curb its relationship with Bangladesh, for example. There might be an endless list of countries the US decides upon.’
On the future of India Russia relations specially with the western counties objecting, Alipov said, ‘We are looking for bilateral summit next year. About expediting the free trade agreement between Russia and India and Eurasia economic corridor. We discussed the authorized economic trade agreement. Talked about role of FINTECH, discussed promising areas of mutual cooperation in Arctic, logistical routes between India & Russia. India has expressed huge interest in projects here. In scientific research, economic cooperation, Indian investments, International North South transport corridor. India has shown interest in nuclear energy market.’
On nuclear and defense cooperation between India and Russia, Alipov said that Russia is a key player in India’s nuclear energy market. ‘We are constructing six power plants at Kudankulam and our cooperation in the nuclear energy sector is progressing very well.’ Alipov lauded the ongoing work on the BrahMos missile project, as well as Russia’s support for India’s ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat and ‘Make in India’ initiatives.
He said that the ‘biggest challenge is not the exchange rate but that the Indian Banks are ‘over cautious’ fearing secondary sanctions in dealing with Russia. Alipov said that New Delhi and Moscow were making efforts to establish a direct trade payment system in Roubles and Rupees. ‘Both countries are thinking about a Rouble-Rupee trade mechanism.’ One of the summit’s key outcomes was the creation of a new category of BRICS ‘partner states,’ allowing more countries to engage with BRICS initiatives, he said.
Alipov said the summit advanced plans for a BRICS cross-border payment system and expanded currency arrangements which would help members manage short-term current account deficits.
The summit that brought together leaders from 35 countries, focused on development issues, global governance reform, and increased cooperation for the Global South, the Russian Ambassador said.
