Russia desires improvement of India-China relations, says Russian envoy Alipov

Russia desires improvement of relations between India and China and its ties with both countries are "very wholesome", Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov said on Friday.   In an interaction with journalists, he also said Rupee-Rouble payment mechanism between India and Russia was t working due to "overcautious approach" of Indian financial community. mechanism for trade between two countries was established to settle dues in rupees instead of US Dollars or Euros in view of imposition of severe ecomic sanctions against Moscow by West following Russian invasion of Ukraine.

To a question on Beijing's release of a so-called "standard map" laying territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin as well as Taiwan and South China Sea, Alipov attempted to play it down. "For your information, re are some discrepancies on Russia-China border as well. We do t exaggerate this issue with Chinese side. And as we have ticed, India does t exaggerate this issue as well," he said.

Asked what will be Moscow's position in case of any hostility between India and China, envoy said Russia will "never sacrifice" its ties with New Delhi under any circumstances. On boundary row between India and China, Alipov said Russia was very much hopeful of improvement of relations between two countries. Describing it as a bilateral issue, he said Russia has been respectful of positions of India as well as China.

To a question, he said Russia does t have defence relations with Pakistan. Referring to Rupee-Rouble mechanism, Alipov said it is t working as Indian financial community and banks are reluctant to use it fearing secondary sanctions. " US has lever to disrupt such bilateral trade transactions. Still banks are reluctant to do that," he said. envoy said over "cautiousness" on part of Indian financial community is main reason behind mechanism t working. "In future, it will be a successful model," he added.