Indo-Russia meet on global challenges held

The first meeting of the Indo-Russian Joint Working Group on Global Challenges was held here today with both sides discussing the situation in the ‘‘common neighbourhood’’. A Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal and Russia Deputy Foreign Minister V. Trubnikov both covered a broad spectrum of issues. The JWG was initially constituted to discuss issues related to Afghanistan. The format was changed later to discuss a wider range of issues, he said.

The next JWC meeting would be held in Moscow, dates for which will be fixed later. Trubnikov is here till Wednesday and is likely to meet other key officials. Indo-Russian bilateral exchange will be further cemented when the Prime Minister visits Moscow on November 11. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov is scheduled to visit India in November-end.