Marking the 50th anniversary of the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation
“This document laid down mainstreaming foundations for hundreds of subsequent bilateral agreements, having formed a solid background for further deepening of our bilateral ties in various areas.”
By Nikolay Kudashev
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation signed between the Soviet Union and India on August 9, 1971.
Being a true example of amity, trusted relations as well as mutual support and understanding, this document laid down mainstreaming foundations for hundreds of subsequent bilateral agreements, having formed a solid background for further deepening of our bilateral ties in various areas.
It included commitments, which are relevant especially now at the critical moment of continuing global turbulence, and which enable our countries as great powers to play a crucial role to promote ideas of just and equal multipolar world.
Among them – respect for the United Nations and principles of its Charter, maintaining strong peace and strengthening friendship and multifaceted cooperation between each other based on equality and mutual benefit, supporting endeavors to preserve global peace, promoting regular dialogue and coordination on international issues, non-participation in any activities against each other.
That Treaty was an integral part of the range of events, which had divided the history of South Asia into before and after, – the third war between India and Pakistan, the creation of Bangladesh and the adoption of the relevant UN SC resolution strongly supported by the Soviet Union along with prevention of attempts to attack India by other powers.
Continuity in the Russian-Indian strategic partnership is the most important value. Russia keeps following the Shimla Agreement of 1972 taking principled position against raising the Kashmir issue in the UN SC and other platforms and any interference in territorial disputes between the two neighboring countries.
Today we keep remaining likeminded with our invariable respect for the UN and international law, dedication to promote an inclusive and unified agenda and denial of any unilateral approaches and illegal restrictions. These commitments are clearly reflected by the Indian chairship in BRICS in 2021 as well as India’s presidency in the UN SC in August 2021.
Unprecedented level of our ties helped us to adapt to the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic. We managed to develop a model partnership, which is humanitarian and non-politicized in nature. Now the Russian vaccine “Sputnik V” is part of the Indian immunization drive, its mass production has started here, and it speaks for itself. Our cooperation is saving lives, and it makes us even more motivated and proud.
Our unique partnership in the areas of energy, nuclear power, defence, space is fully corresponding to the Make in India programme. Forward-looking initiatives are successfully implemented in trade and economy, finance and investments, education, culture. We have drawn up a broad agenda for joint development of the Russian Far East and in Arctic as well as connectivity projects such as the North-South International Transport Corridor and the Vladivostok-Chennai maritime sea route. An FTA between the Eurasian Economic Union and India is also on the table.
We see the initiative of the Greater Eurasian Partnership as a tool to achieve peace, stability and sustainable development in the region, for which we are also joining hands to promote constructive work in the SCO, ASEAN-centered mechanisms and other formats.
Our interaction has no limits since it is based on the spirit of warm and friendly relations, pillars of which were embodied in the Treaty of 1971. We are firmly convinced that the Treaty having formalized practically fraternal ties between our countries even today significantly contributes to the manifestation of the special and privileged strategic partnership as a key global factor.
To sum up, importance of the events that happened 50 years ago cannot be overestimated, and our common history makes us even more confident in terms of what we believe in.
H.E. Mr. Nikolay Kudashev is Ambassador of the Russian Federation in India
Courtesy: Embassy of the Russian Federation in New Delhi
