ENA Global 2025-08-22 16:51:26 <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>New Delhi, Aug 22 (KNN)</strong> Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held wide-ranging talks in Moscow on Thursday, with energy cooperation and trade balance emerging as central themes. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">India conveyed that it would continue purchasing Russian crude as long as pricing remained competitive, despite ongoing pressure from the United States over such imports.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">At a joint press conference, Lavrov said India and Russia were considering joint ventures for energy resource extraction, including projects in Russias Far East and the Arctic shelf. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">We have good results in cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, in the supply of Russian oil to the Indian market, and we have a mutual interest in implementing joint projects, he stated.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Jaishankar stressed the importance of sustaining energy ties through trade and investment while acknowledging the current imbalance in bilateral trade. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Russia is Indias fourth-largest trading partner, while India is Russias second-largest.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The minister noted that Indian exports to Russia&mdash;particularly in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and textiles&mdash;must expand to address the trade gap. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">He urged Russia to remove non-tariff and regulatory barriers that hinder Indian exports. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Discussions also touched upon securing long-term fertiliser supplies and tapping opportunities for Indian skilled workers in IT, construction, and engineering to meet Russias labour needs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Connectivity projects featured prominently, with both sides reviewing the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chennai Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Jaishankar said these would deepen economic linkages, reduce transit times, and open access to wider Eurasian markets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">On the diplomatic front, he emphasised the need to expedite the opening of two new Indian consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. Defence and military-technical cooperation also remain strong, the ministers noted.</span></p> <p><em><strong><span style="font-size:14px">(KNN Bureau)</span></strong></em></p> 43244 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/global/jaishankar-lavrov-discuss-energy-trade-imbalance-connectivity-india-to-keep-buying-russian-oil 2025-08-22 16:51:26 knnindia.co.in