RUSSIA AND INDIA: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda International Conference

On March 27, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), supported by the Embassy of India in Russia, will host the first ever Russia and India: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda International Conference. The event will bring together public officials and experts from Moscow, New Delhi, and other cities and regions of the two countries.

The year 2022 marked the 75th anniversary of Russia–India diplomatic relations. The long-standing special and privileged partnership between Moscow and New Delhi is based on mutual trust, understanding, and strategic convergence. It is a relationship between two self-reliant actors, Eurasian neighbors, as well as key players of the multipolar world order.

The 22nd Russia–India Annual Summit held in Moscow on July 8–9, 2024, reaffirmed the stability of these bilateral ties. Warm and friendly exchanges between between President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi demonstrate their willingness to seek compromise on bilateral, regional, and global levels.

Promoting Russian–Indian relations in all spheres of life is a shared priority for both countries. In 2022–2023, bilateral trade reached $49.4 bn, almost twice exceeding the initial $30 bn target for 2025, previously set out by the two leaders. Now, Moscow and New Delhi aim to reach $100 bn in trade before 2030. The parties have also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in transport and machinery, metal production, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, agriculture and other areas of common interest. Together, Russia and India foresee the development of joint connectivity projects in Eurasia, including the potential use of the of the Northern Sea Route. Energy cooperation, including in nuclear energy, remains a key element of the privileged strategic partnership.

The global dimension of the Russian–Indian partnership has always been at the heart of their bilateral relations. High-level political dialogue and cooperation under the auspices of the UN, coupled with the inherent tradition of Moscow and New Delhi to act and think globally makes the two responsible actors on the international stage. The 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan on October 22–24, 2024, demonstrated Moscow and New Delhi’s serious commitment to mutual respect and understanding, equality, solidarity, transparency, inclusiveness and consensus.

The conference aims to promote all aspects of the Russian–Indian bilateral agenda, such as economy and trade, science and technology, people-to-people ties, food security and agriculture, as well as develop recommendations for the respective ministries and agencies of the two countries

Conference Program

Welcome Address

09:00 – 09:15

Sergey LAVROV, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian International Affairs Council

Subrahmanyam JAISHANKAR, Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India

Opening Session

09:15 – 09:45

Igor IVANOV, President of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC)

Vinay KUMAR, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation

Denis ALIPOV, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of India

Moderator
Ivan TIMOFEEV Director General, RIAC

Tea / Coffee Break

09:45 – 10:00

Plenary Session. Russian and Indian Foreign Policy Strategies in the Evolving World Order
The session is co-organized by NatStrat, New Delhi, India

10:00 – 12:00

Topics for Discussion:

• World Order Transformation: Foreign Policy Priorities of Russia and India in the 2020s
• The Future of Multilateral Platforms - Opportunities and Challenges for the UN Amidst Global Transformation and the Role of BRICS in Shaping a New Financial and Economic Architecture: Views from Moscow and New Delhi
• Harmonizing the Moscow-New Delhi Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership: Common, Parallel and Diverging Interests

Moderator
Fyodor LUKYANOV, Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs, Chairman of the Presidium of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, Research Director of Valdai Discussion Club, RIAC Presidium Member

Plenary Session. Russian–Indian Trade and Economic Relations: Traditional Fields and Opportunities

12:00 – 14:00

The session is co-organized by Gateway House, Mumbai, India

Topics for Discussion:

• Russia’s Pivot to the East and Self-Reliant India: Exploring Incentives for the Bilateral Economic Partnership
• Balancing Bilateral Trade in Rupees and Rubles: Banking, Payment and Insurance Issues on the Agenda
• Energy Cooperation Between Russia and India: Traditional Sources and Nuclear Energy
• The Role of Logistics in Russia–India Dialogue: Promoting the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Northern Sea Route, and Eastern Maritime Corridor and Shipbuilding Cooperation
• Investment Opportunities for Moscow and New Delhi – New Economic Growth Drivers: Skilled Workforce Mobility, E-commerce, Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment

Moderator:
Igor YURGENS, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development, Professor, Department of Risk Management and Insurance, RIAC Board of Trustees Member

• Russia–India Technological Sovereignty Strategies: Advancing Domestic IT Solutions
• Exploring New and Developing Cooperation Domains: AI, Quantum Technologies, Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
• Sharing Expertise in Industrial Modernization and Digitalization: Best Russian and Indian Practices

Moderator
Alexey KUPRIYANOV, Head of the Center of the Indo-Pacific Region, IMEMO RAS

Lunch

14:00 – 15:00

Plenary Session. People-to-People Dialogue: Bridging Civilizations
The session is co-organized by the Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi, India

15:00 – 17:00

Topics for Discussion:

• The “Civilization-state” Concept: The Russian and Indian Experience – Opportunities and Limitations of Civilizational Multilateralism
• Facilitating Inter-Civilizational Dialogue with World Majority Countries: Strategies for Russia–India Academic Exchange and Joint Educational Initiatives
• Developing Russia–India Expert Dialogue and Track II Diplomacy: Think-Tank Cooperation

Moderator:
Mikhail SHVIDKOY, Special Representative of the President of Russia for International Cultural Cooperation, Ambassador-at-large, RIAC Member

Special Session. Russian–Indian Dialogue in Agriculture and Food Security: Harvesting Opportunities

15:00 – 16:30

Topics for Discussion:

• Global Market Trends in 2030: Potential Food Security Challenges
• Promoting Robust Bilateral Food Trade in the Age of Total Uncertainty: Supply Chain Maintenance
• Capacity Building: Joint Venture Potential in Food and Agriculture and Market Regulation in Russia and India
• The R&D Dimension: Innovation and Expertise Transfer in the India–Russia Agricultural Dialogue

Moderator: Lydia KULIK, Head of India Studies, Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO, Senior Research Fellow, RAS Institute of Oriental Studies

Closing Remarks

17:00 – 17:30

Ivan TIMOFEEV, Director General, RIAC

Nikhilesh GIRI, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Moscow

Cocktail Reception

17:30 – 18:30