The RIC Grouping (Russia, India, China) demonstrates genuine multilateralism in relations to the world, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday and "China will work with Russia and India acting in the spirit of openness, solidarity, trust and cooperation, in the spirit of the RIC mechanism." 

The minister stressed that the RIC sent a signal of "true multilateralism" and "democracy promotion in international relations" to the world. China, Russia and India can and will contribute to tackling the global problems, according to the minister.

RIC as a strategic grouping started to take shape in 1998 under the leadership of Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov as a counterbalance to the Western alliance. The operation involving Russia, India and China commenced after trilateral contacts in New York in 2003-2005 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly sessions.

Friday's meeting is being held under the chairmanship of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. India took over the chairmanship of the RIC after the last meeting of RIC Foreign Ministers in Moscow in September 2020.

Following the meeting, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will pass on the chairmanship of the RIC to the Chinese Foreign Minister  for the next one year.
 

(SAM)