(a) whether Russia, India and China (RIC) group has been formed;
(b) if so, the details and the activities thereof;
(c) whether RIC would help all three countries in better coordination specially between India and China and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the present stance of China on RIC with regard to resolution of border disputes and economic/business relations?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) & (b) An informal meeting of RIC (Russia, India and China) Foreign Ministers was first held in New York in September 2002 on the sidelines of the 57th session of the UN General Assembly. The RIC Foreign Ministers have since met 18 times. The last meeting was held in VC format in November 2021. (List of meetings placed at Annexure A)
The first Informal Summit of RIC Leaders was held on the sidelines of the G-8 Summit St. Petersburg (Russia) in July 2006. RIC leaders have so far met 3 times, with the last meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Osaka (Japan) in June 2019. (List of meetings placed at Annexure B).
Discussions in RIC meetings pertain to common opportunities and challenges like terrorism, climate change, Covid-19 pandemic, etc. It also provides a useful platform for exchange of views on regional, multilateral and global issues of interest.
(c) & (d) Bilateral issues are not discussed at RIC meetings.