“The two leaders discussed India-Russia long-standing partnership”: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman
NEW DELHI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a series of bilateral meetings, including with Russian and Chinese counterparts, and discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and interests. These meetings were held on the sidelines of the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Rio de Janeiro, the finance ministry said in a post on X.
During a meeting with Russia’s finance minister Anton Siluanov, Sitharaman also expressed gratitude for the support extended by President Vladimir Putin after the Pahalgam terror attack. “The two leaders discussed India-Russia long-standing partnership,” the finance ministry said.
In her post, the finance minister, however, observed that India and Russia enjoy exemplary levels of mutual trust and understanding and our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership remains resilient and steadfast. “The two sides also discussed issues of bilateral cooperation, including cooperation in the financial sector, along with matters related to NDB,” she said on X.
In another bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart Lan Fo'an, both leaders discussed strengthening collaboration across a wide range of areas due to the common rich human capital, deep civilisational ties, and expanding economic influence. “The two leaders recalled their last meeting in Samarkand in September 2024 on the sidelines of the AIIB annual meetings,” another post by the finance ministry said.
Sitharaman, however, underlined that India and China are uniquely positioned to drive inclusive global growth and innovation, as the two nations are the largest and fastest-growing economies in the world. “The finance minister also suggested that deeper engagement between the two countries can help amplify the voice of developing economies, and shape global narratives that reflect the priorities and aspirations of the global South,” the ministry said.
Besides, she held the bilateral meeting with Thomas Djiwandono, vice finance minister of Indonesia, and finance minister of Brazil Fernando Haddad and discussed issues of bilateral interests, saying that India looks forward to hosting the Indonesia Economic and Financial Dialogue soon. She also thanked Indonesia for their support in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, a separate post on X by the finance ministry said.
