By Su Qiang

Analysts Monday downplayed possible Western fears over a meeting between Asia's three biggest nations.

Foreign ministers from China, Russia and India, who will meet in New Delhi next month, are not drafting a plot against other nations, but working out a regional cooperation plan, Sun Shihai, of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of South Asian Studies, told China Daily.

"The meeting is based on common interest rather than targeting other countries," said Sun.

The foreign ministers will hold their fourth round of talks in two years on February 14. Issues up for discussion include energy, terrorism, drug trafficking and crime.

"If you look closely at the basic background of the three countries, you will find they have a lot in common and a lot of experiences to share," said Sun.

On the world stage, the three countries have all urged the United Nations to play a major role in resolving international issues. They are all also staunch advocates of a new international economic order and the establishment of multi-polar political system, he added.

But sometimes Western countries, especially the United States, misinterpret the trilateral meetings.

The US fears cooperation between the emerging powers will interrupt the balance of power in Europe and Asia, said Fu Xiaoqiang, a South Asia expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

Oil pulls them together

Energy cooperation is the main goal pulling the nations together, with Russian oil potentially fuelling India and China's rapid economic growth, said Sun.

But Fu added that the three-way meetings have yet to yield any substantial results.

"It is expected that as the ministerial-level meetings become more regular, they will touch upon more concrete matters, especially trade and energy cooperation," he said.

(China Daily January 30, 2007)