India, Host to Russian Foreign Minister and US Presidential Envoy Over their Visit on Multisectoral Discussions

New Delhi: As Per the schedule, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry have commenced their Indian tour.

On his two-day visit to India, Lavrov will talk with S Jaishankar on a multilateral dimension. The duo will discuss ongoing peace negotiations on Afghanistan. Discussions about the troika organised by Moscow last month in which US, Pakistan and representatives of the Afghanistan government, members of the Taliban took part while India wasn’t invited will be held. Russian foreign minister is expected to brief India on steps taken vis a vis Afghanistan. 

Discussion will also be held on the development of COVID-19 vaccines.  Statistics reveal, India has become the fourth largest country to produce Russian vaccine ‘Sputnik’ outside the country.  Jaishankar and Lavrov will also discuss and prepare the ground for the summit meeting between the head of states which is expected to take place later this year. 

Russia enjoys good relations with both India and China and had welcomed peace initiatives taken by both sides, as some disengagement had taken place on the India China border, Moscow has maintained that it is watching developments closely.

US Presidential envoy John Kerry is also here on a four-day visit and will meet the Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today. 

Kerry’s Spokesperson said,” In New Delhi, Special Presidential Envoy Kerry will meet with representatives of the Indian government, private sector, and nongovernmental organizations. As one of the world’s largest economies and a global leader in science and innovation, India is a critical part of the solution to the climate crisis. We see India as an important partner on future clean energy research, development, and deployment, not least because of their successful domestic agenda in this area.”