India-Russia talks: Jaishankar to visit Moscow on August 23-24

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will travel to Russia on August 23 and 24 to co-chair the 27th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday.

The visit comes at a time when New Delhi and Moscow continue to work on strengthening their longstanding bilateral ties, with trade, economic cooperation and wider regional developments expected to feature in the discussions.

Jaishankar to meet Sergey Lavrov

Jaishankar is travelling to Russia at the invitation of First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

During the two-day visit, the External Affairs Minister will also hold a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The two sides are expected to exchange views on regional and global developments as part of the engagement.

The meeting with Lavrov will provide an opportunity for the two countries to discuss issues of mutual interest alongside the broader agenda of the commission.

Key bilateral mechanism

The IRIGC-TEC serves as an important institutional platform for India and Russia to review their cooperation and identify areas for further engagement.

Its mandate covers several sectors, including trade, the economy, science, technology and culture. The 27th session will therefore focus on taking stock of existing cooperation while looking at ways to advance bilateral ties across these areas.

Jaishankar's visit also comes as both countries continue to maintain close engagement despite changes in the wider geopolitical environment.

Trade and wider issues on agenda

Economic ties are expected to remain an important part of the discussions during the visit. The commission provides a forum for officials from both sides to examine progress in different areas of economic and commercial cooperation.

Alongside bilateral matters, Jaishankar's meeting with Lavrov is expected to cover regional and global issues.

The two-day visit will mark another high-level engagement between India and Russia as New Delhi and Moscow continue efforts to deepen their partnership. The IRIGC-TEC meeting is expected to provide a platform for both sides to assess ongoing cooperation and discuss the way forward in key sectors.