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)
