INDIA-JAPAN-RUSSIA TRILATERAL COOPERATION IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST
FIRST TRACK-II DIALOGUE
20 January 2021
AGREED OUTCOME DOCUMENT
The first Track-II dialogue on India-Japan-Russia Trilateral Cooperation in the Russian Far East was held virtually on 20 January 2021. It was hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi. The Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia (ERINA) from Japan and Far East Investment and Export Agency (FEIEA) from Russia are co-partners in this trilateral dialogue.
2. As the initial step in the process of exploring trilateral cooperation in various areas, such as economic, social and regional issues, the focus of the first dialogue was on the exchange of views and information among the three sides on their respective outlook on the economic opportunities in the Russian Far East and identifying potential areas of trilateral cooperation.
3. Taking note of the complementarities of capacities and convergence of interest among India, Japan and Russia, the participants agreed that it is in the three countries' shared interest to promote the trilateral framework to harness economic opportunities in the Russian Far East for mutual benefit. In this regard, the participants identified energy, coal mining, transport and logistics, maritime connectivity, diamond processing, agro-industry, forestry, pharma, healthcare, high technology, scientific research, capacity building, tourism, humanitarian fields as potential areas of trilateral cooperation. To promote trilateral cooperation in the identified areas, it was proposed to undertake feasibility studies through stakeholder consultation.
4. The participants welcomed growing links among the three countries in the Arctic, recognising the inter-connected nature of regional development alongside the Russian Far East. It was suggested to explore the potential for trilateral partnership in the development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route through the promotion of investment and trade linkages.
5. The participants underscored the need for promoting people-to-people contacts, with a special focus on the Russian Far East. In this regard, it is suggested to take respective measures to facilitate the exchange of people among the three countries, especially in the fields of research and capacity building.
6. Recognising the growing convergence of interest among the three countries in the Russian Far East, the participants shared the view that the dialogue in itself is an important dimension of trilateral cooperation and agreed to strengthen the Track II dialogue mechanism by making it an annual feature.
7. The three sides shared the view that the involvement of the business circles of India, Japan and Russia is essential in order to identify areas and concrete projects for trilateral cooperation. Bearing this view in mind, the three sides agreed to appoint responsible representatives from each side in order to continue to explore appropriate formats of trilateral business dialogues, including the possibilities of holding a trilateral business consultation on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in 2021 in the format mutually convenient to the Sides.
8. The Japanese and Russian representatives welcomed the efforts made by ICWA in hosting this Track-II dialogue and noted that they looked forward to the next edition of the dialogue at a mutually convenient time.
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