19 April 2016: The foreign ministers of China, India and the Russian Federation reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, in a Joint Communiqué. The Ministers agreed on the need to further strengthen cooperation on global and regional issues while respecting independent choices of development path and social systems by people of all countries.

The 14th Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation, India and China convened in Moscow, Russia, on 18 April 2016.

Ministers called for enhanced efforts at all levels to achieve the SDGs, taking into account national capacities, development levels and realities and respecting national policies and prioties. They stressed the role of a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, as outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA), underscoring the need for mobilization of financial resources, capacity building and transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries.

On climate change, Ministers expressed appreciation for the outcomes of the 21st session of Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and confirmed their readiness “to work actively and constructively” to ensure the timely entry into force and implementation of the Paris Agreement.

On ocean law and governance, Ministers stated their commitment to maintaining a legal order for the seas and oceans based on the principles in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and called for all related disputes to be addressed through negotiations among concerned parties.

Ministers also emphasized the role of Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa (the BRICS) in promoting sustainable development, addressing poverty eradication and inequality, and responding to emerging challenges. In this context, they welcomed the establishment of the New Development Bank.

Ministers addressed a number of other issues, such as: the need for comprehensive UN reform, including of the UN Security Council, to make it more efficient and increase representation of developing countries; peace and security; and security in the use of information and communications technology (ICT). [Joint Communiqué]