Xi, Putin, Modi pledge to bolster trilateral cooperation for world prosperity

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies in the Japanese city of Osaka, June 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

OSAKA, Japan, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of China, Russia and India agreed here Friday to continue to maintain, utilize and develop their trilateral cooperation mechanism, in a bid to make greater contributions to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

The consensus was reached at a meeting of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was held on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 major economies in the Japanese city of Osaka.

Xi pointed out that the rise of protectionism and unilateralism has seriously affected the stability of the global landscape, dragged down world economic growth, and exerted a negative impact that cannot be ignored on the international order on which emerging-market countries and developing countries depend.

China, Russia and India should show their due international responsibilities, and safeguard the fundamental and long-term interests of the three countries and the international community, Xi said.

The three countries need to promote a multi-polar world and make international relations more democratic, Xi stressed, calling on all parties to abide by the UN charter, practice multilateralism, adhere to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, uphold the international order based on international law, and safeguard world fairness and justice.

He called on the three countries to build an open world economy that facilitates a better development of emerging-market countries and developing countries, expand cooperation in 5G network, high technology, connectivity, energy and other areas, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, advance the reform of the World Trade Organization by consensus, and endeavor to address imbalances and inequalities in world economic development.

Xi added that China, Russia and India need to safeguard global and regional peace and stability, advocate a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, resolve hotspot issues through political dialogue, jointly combat terrorism in all forms, and work together to address global challenges such as climate change and cyber security.

For his part, Putin said that under the current circumstances, Russia, China and India should be firmly committed to upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, safeguarding the international order based on international law, defending the basic principles of international relations such as respect for sovereignty and non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, and opposing unilateralism, protectionism and unilateral sanctions.

Modi said that it is in the common interests of India, China and Russia to uphold multilateralism and international law and rules. The three countries should strengthen communication and coordination in such areas as global governance reform, regional security and counter-terrorism, he said.

The three leaders agreed to keep in close contact.