The India–Russia relationship under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin has been characterized by a deepening of defense and military cooperation, reflecting the historical ties between the two nations.

India continues to rely heavily on Russian-origin military equipment, with approximately 60% of its defense arsenal sourced from Russia, including Sukhoi fighter jets, tanks, and naval assets.

During the Modi-Putin era, India and Russia have renewed their framework for military-technical cooperation, ensuring collaboration in defense for the next decade.

A significant milestone in defense cooperation was the finalization of a Rs 5,000 crore deal for the production of over five lakh AK-203 rifles in India, aligning with the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

India has also procured advanced S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia, despite the risk of U.S. sanctions, to bolster its air defense capabilities.

The S-400 systems are being strategically deployed in border areas to counter threats from China, highlighting the intersection of India’s defense strategy and its rivalry with Beijing.

India and Russia have also discussed logistics support agreements to allow their militaries to use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment, further enhancing operational interoperability.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has posed challenges to India’s defense supplies, causing delays in deliveries and raising concerns over payment mechanisms.

Despite these challenges, the Russian defense industry has demonstrated resilience, ensuring continued support to India’s armed forces.

Strategic dialogues and summits have been pivotal in maintaining the momentum of India–Russia relations, with mechanisms like the annual summit meetings providing a platform for reviewing bilateral ties.

The introduction of the ‘2+2’ defense and foreign ministerial dialogue has further institutionalized high-level discussions, involving key ministers from both sides to address strategic issues.

The 21st India–Russia summit, held in December 2021, underscored the commitment of both nations to expand cooperation in defense, trade, and energy.

However, the absence of leadership summits in recent years, partly due to Russia’s preoccupation with the Ukraine conflict, has created a political gap that India has sought to address through ministerial visits.

Economic and trade relations between India and Russia have also seen significant growth, with bilateral trade exceeding $50 billion in recent years, driven by energy, fertilizers, and coking coal.

India has emerged as a major buyer of Russian oil, leveraging discounted prices to secure its energy needs amidst global volatility.

Despite this growth, a significant trade imbalance persists, with India importing about $60 billion worth of goods annually from Russia while exporting far less in return.

To address this imbalance, India and Russia have signed agreements to boost trade and joint investment projects, particularly in Russia’s resource-rich Far East region.

Connectivity projects such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chennai-Vladivostok route are critical components of their economic strategy, aimed at enhancing trade linkages.

These connectivity initiatives are designed to be free from political agendas, contrasting with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and emphasize transparency and respect for sovereignty.

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is another key project, promising significant cost savings and reduced shipping times for goods traveling between Europe and Asia.

India and Russia have also discussed building a ‘Greater Eurasian space’ as a new architecture for cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Amidst global geopolitical shifts, India has sought to balance its traditional ties with Russia while diversifying its partnerships, particularly with the United States.

Russia’s growing alignment with China, described by Putin as being in the ‘best period in history,’ adds complexity to India’s balancing act in the region.

India’s involvement in the U.S.-led Quad, which is seen as a counterbalance to China’s regional ambitions, has raised concerns in Moscow about bloc politics in Asia.

The Ukraine war has exposed India’s strategic vulnerabilities but has also paradoxically increased its importance on the global stage, providing it with greater leverage in its foreign policy.

India has not endorsed Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, emphasizing respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, while countering Western attempts to diplomatically isolate Moscow.

The India–Russia relationship is further influenced by India’s rivalry with China, particularly in the context of border disputes and regional security dynamics.

India leverages its historical ties with Russia to maintain a continental balance in the Eurasian heartland, countering China’s growing influence.

The deployment of S-400 missile systems by both India and China along their disputed border underscores the strategic importance of advanced defense capabilities in this rivalry.

China’s promotion of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as models of non-Western collaboration contrasts with India’s demand for a return to the pre-2020 border status quo for normalizing relations.

Russia’s respect for India’s policy of strategic autonomy remains a core strength of their bilateral ties, allowing India to navigate its complex geopolitical environment.

Prime Minister Modi has been praised by President Putin for his tough stance on Indian national interests and his resistance to external pressures, particularly from the U.S., regarding the Ukraine conflict.

India’s strategic autonomy is also reflected in its decision to purchase discounted Russian oil, which has helped stabilize global oil prices amidst the Ukraine crisis.

While maintaining its ties with Russia, India has significantly increased its defense purchases from the West and is collaborating with the U.S. to modernize its military manufacturing base.

India’s decreasing reliance on Russian defense equipment indicates a shift in its strategic orientation, even as it continues to value its partnership with Moscow.

The evolving India–Russia relationship under Modi and Putin reflects a complex interplay of historical ties, strategic interests, and the challenges posed by shifting global alliances.

The India–Russia relationship under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin has been characterized by a deepening of defense and military cooperation, reflecting the historical ties between the two nations.

Title:

Content: Day 2: India forges ahead: Strengthening Defence Ties Amidst Challenges with Russian-Origin Equipment

The Working Group Meeting between India and Russia aims to foster stronger defence ties between the two countries.

Amidst ongoing challenges with Russian-origin defence equipment, India is actively working on enhancing its military cooperation with key nations. As part of this effort, the third Meeting of the Indian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) is going on in New Delhi. On day one of the two day the meeting, chaired by Lt Gen Johnson P Mathew from the Indian side and Lt Gen Dylevskii Igor Nikolaevich from the Russian side, focused on addressing issues related to spare parts and maintenance of the Russian equipment utilized by the Indian armed forces.

The Working Group Meeting between India and Russia aims to foster stronger defence ties between the two countries. This strategic dialogue assumes added significance with India’s increasing dependence on Russian defence equipment, ranging from Sukhoi fighter jets to tanks and naval assets. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has impacted military supplies to India, raising concerns over payment mechanisms and delays in deliveries. However, the Russian defence industry’s resilience and focus on production of various defence items have shown positive signs, ensuring continued support to India’s armed forces.

In the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis. Despite the challenges, India has strengthened its trade ties with Moscow and remains committed to enhancing defence cooperation. To achieve this goal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken two successful visits to prominent nations, the United States and France, where key defence deals were announced.

The meeting is taking place close on the heels of the recently concluded visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US and France. During his visit to the United States, PM Modi reaffirmed the strategic partnership between India and the US. Both nations inked significant defence deals aimed at bolstering India’s defence capabilities and strengthening military ties. Similarly, in Paris PM Modi engaged in fruitful discussions, resulting in important defence agreements that will pave the way for enhanced cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces.

India’s commitment to bolstering its defence capabilities and cooperation remains unwavering, even amidst challenges with Russian-origin equipment. The recent Working Group Meeting with Russia reflects the nation’s determination to find solutions collaboratively.

Get live Share Market updates and latest India News and business news on Financial Express. Download Financial Express App for latest business news.

First published on: 19-07-2023 at 11:02 IST
Today’s Most Popular Stories ×

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

weapons supply
weapons joint production
security & military

India continues to rely heavily on Russian-origin military equipment, with approximately 60% of its defense arsenal sourced from Russia, including Sukhoi fighter jets, tanks, and naval assets.

Title:

Content: The purchase of "Russian-made missiles" is threatened by US sanctions: India decides its own weapons procurement
India will purchase the Russian S-400 missile system, which could be subject to U.S. sanctions.
(Photo / Reuters)
Central News Agency reporter Lin Xingjian New Delhi 3 days special telegram
At a time when India may face U.S. sanctions for purchasing S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia, India ’ s Ministry of Defense stressed on Wednesday that the government can make its own decisions on weapons purchases based on security needs.
In a written response to a question from a member of the House of Commons, Deputy Defence Minister Ajay Bhatt said the Indian government had signed a contract with Russia on October 5, 2018 for the procurement of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, and the government was “well aware of the impact that external circumstances may have on the procurement of defence equipment. ”
“The government makes sovereign decisions based on threat perception, operational and technical aspects to ensure that the three services are in a state of readiness to meet various security challenges, ” the written reply stressed.
Delivery of the weapons is in accordance with the contract schedule, "the spokesman said.
Barth said the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system would provide India with a sustained and effective air defense capability over a wide range.
The written reply did not name any countries, nor did it mention that this was in response to the Member ’ s question.
But Russia began delivering S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to India in early November, when international media reported that India could be sanctioned by the United States for purchasing weapons from Russia.
Indian media reported that the S-400 is the third generation surface-to-air missile system produced by Russia and has almost full airspace defense capabilities against a variety of air targets, including drones, missiles, rockets and fighters.
The report said that China had deployed S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems on the border in the dispute between China and India, which caused great pressure on the Indian Air Force, so India will also set up the newly purchased S-400 anti-aircraft missile system in the border area in response to China's threat.
India has a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with the United States and is also a "special strategic partner" of Russia; Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit New Delhi on December 6 and hold the 21st India-Russia summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India has maintained close military relations with the Soviet Union since the beginning of the Cold War.
According to the website of the Russian Embassy in India, 60% of the military equipment and technology purchased by India comes from Russia.
► Click here to subscribe to the podcast "Small Encyclopedia" to give you 10 minutes a day hot topics
Share with friends:
※ This article is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without permission. [ETtoday Copyright Notice]
Related News
Hot News
The best video
And more.
Hot News
Back to the top.

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

During the Modi-Putin era, India and Russia have renewed their framework for military-technical cooperation, ensuring collaboration in defense for the next decade.

Title:

Content:   1. You Are At:
  2. English News
  3. India
  4. India, Russia looking at holding '2+2' dialogue alongside Modi-Putin summit

India, Russia looking at holding '2+2' dialogue alongside Modi-Putin summit

The pact will allow militaries of the two countries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies, besides facilitating scaling up of overall defense cooperation.

PTI
New Delhi Published on: November 17, 2021 23:36 IST

The first edition of India-Russia '2+2' defense and foreign ministerial dialogue may be held alongside a summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin that is likely to take place on December 6, people familiar with the developments said on Wednesday. The two sides are looking at holding the '2+2' dialogue around the time of the summit primarily due to scheduling issues, they said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are scheduled to hold the dialogue with their Russian counterparts Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Shoygu.

Jaishankar and Singh were to travel to Moscow in the last week of November but the plan is being amended primarily due to the Winter session of Parliament that is scheduled from November 29.

The two ministers were also likely to travel to Washington for the India-US '2+2' dialogue with US Secretay of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin later this month or early December.

But, the people cited above said the talks are now likely to be pushed to January. Putin is likely to visit India for the bilateral summit with Modi on December 6. The summit is expected to produce specific outcomes in further expanding ties in areas of defense, trade, and energy.

It is learned that the two sides are going to firm up a number of agreements in the areas of defense, trade and investment, and science and technology at the summit.

A framework for military-technical cooperation is set to be renewed for the next decade at the summit besides announcing a joint commission on technology and science. India and Russia have also reached the final phase of negotiation for a logistics support agreement and it is likely to be signed either during the two-plus-two talks or at the summit.

The pact will allow militaries of the two countries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies, besides facilitating scaling up of overall defense cooperation. The unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and implications of the Taliban's takeover of Kabul for regional security are also expected to figure prominently at the summit.

The summit was postponed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the countries have a mechanism under which India's prime minister and the Russian president hold a summit meeting annually to review the entire gamut of ties.

So far 20 Annual Summit meetings have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. Russia has been a time-tested partner for India and a key pillar of New Delhi's foreign policy.

Also Read: India starts receiving 'game changer' S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia

Latest India News

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

weapons supply
weapons joint production
security & military

A significant milestone in defense cooperation was the finalization of a Rs 5,000 crore deal for the production of over five lakh AK-203 rifles in India, aligning with the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Title:

Content: Top

Old friends

X

On Monday, PM Modi spoke over the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The phone call reportedly was a follow-up on many of the issues raised during Putin's recent India visit on December 6. According to a statement by the PMO, the two leaders have agreed to remain in regular touch with each other on a range of issues covered under the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Insofar as visits from foreign dignitaries and leaders go, Putin's visit to India earlier this month was arguably the most consequential development for India in the field of foreign affairs for quite some time. India, as may be known, has a long and storied relationship with Russia and its precursor, the Soviet Union. From the earliest days, the friendship between the two nations had a strong strategic undertone with both sides supporting each other on the world stage whenever necessary. Indeed, the Soviet Union was undeniably India's greatest ally in the 20th century against the machinations of the western powers like the US that did not take kindly to India announcing itself to be a 'socialist' nation. From Kashmir to the Bangladesh Liberation War, Russia has stood by India in defence of its strategic interests. As a proof of the relationship, a majority of military equipment India currently possesses was either directly supplied by Moscow or is otherwise of Russian origin. In recent years, with the fall of the Soviet Union and India's move towards liberalising its economy, India has ventured out into the world to make a new set of friends. This time around, it is India and the US that are getting along like a house on fire. India has deliberately sought to widen its field diplomatically and militarily in order to not be tied down to a single nation with the rather pragmatic understanding that there are no permanent relationships in international politics. In more recent times, Russia and India have somewhat drifted further apart as Russia bands together with India's rival China to take on the hegemony of the western world that is held up by the US. While India has no interest in joining the US in its power games against Russia, it is very much interested in leveraging its relationship with the west in its struggle to contain a belligerent China. It is here that India has had to perform a tremendous tight-rope walk, particularly following the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia. On the one hand, you have America that wishes to limit or even extinguish India's strategic relationship with Russia. On the other, you have Russia that is increasingly concerned and agitated by India drawing ever closer to the US's sphere of influence as it joins America in endeavours like the Quad grouping. Of particular concern to both sides is India's continuing dependence on Russia for military equipment. The US, already having sanctioned Turkey for the same, looks on menacingly as it threatens India with sanctions for buying the S-400 missile system. Russia, of course, is not only interested in keeping its old defence ties but even expanding them, as it has been recently teasing India with the possibility of being the first nation in the world to buy the improved S-500 missile system. In this regard, Putin's visit to India could be termed as symbolic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Putin has only ventured out twice from his country, with the second trip being the one to India. His tone and body language during the meeting with PM Modi spoke volumes of the importance he attaches to maintaining the ties with India. Aside from underscoring the good working relationship he has with India's PM, the visit also highlighted that despite the recent turns of history, the two nations still have much to share and collectively work towards. Common concern in regards to the Taliban and Afghanistan is one such area that the two sides are looking to cooperate on in the near future. Another is strengthening existing defence ties between the two nations. Underscoring its strategic independence, India has decided to continue with its defence dealings with Russia, discussing the purchase of the S-400 missile system while also finalising a long-pending Rs 5,000 crore deal for the production of over five lakh AK-203 rifles in a joint Indo-Russian deal. But all said and done, the future of India's relationship with Russia still has some shades of uncertainty. Primary amongst them is the ongoing escalation between Moscow and NATO in regards to Ukraine and eastern Europe. If Russia should choose to brave threats of western sanctions to take action in Ukraine, where does this leave India? Can India still continue its balancing game between east and west at a time when geopolitics are heating up to a boiling point? That remains to be seen.

Next Story

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

weapons supply
weapons joint production
security & military

India has also procured advanced S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia, despite the risk of U.S. sanctions, to bolster its air defense capabilities.

How did India react to the war between Russia and Ukraine?

India did not join the Western sanctions against Russia

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

The S-400 systems are being strategically deployed in border areas to counter threats from China, highlighting the intersection of India’s defense strategy and its rivalry with Beijing.

Why is maintaining a relationship with Russia important for India?

India and Russia have also discussed logistics support agreements to allow their militaries to use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment, further enhancing operational interoperability.

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has posed challenges to India’s defense supplies, causing delays in deliveries and raising concerns over payment mechanisms.

How has Russia/ India arms trade evolved since the start of the war in Ukraine?

Despite these challenges, the Russian defense industry has demonstrated resilience, ensuring continued support to India’s armed forces.

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

Strategic dialogues and summits have been pivotal in maintaining the momentum of India–Russia relations, with mechanisms like the annual summit meetings providing a platform for reviewing bilateral ties.

What formal frameworks do India and Russia cooperate within?

The introduction of the ‘2+2’ defense and foreign ministerial dialogue has further institutionalized high-level discussions, involving key ministers from both sides to address strategic issues.

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

What formal frameworks do India and Russia cooperate within?

foreign ministers' meetings
defense ministers' meetings

The 21st India–Russia summit, held in December 2021, underscored the commitment of both nations to expand cooperation in defense, trade, and energy.

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

What formal frameworks do India and Russia cooperate within?

However, the absence of leadership summits in recent years, partly due to Russia’s preoccupation with the Ukraine conflict, has created a political gap that India has sought to address through ministerial visits.

Title:

Content: 31 Dec, 2023 08:46

Deeper than diplomacy: There is a reason why New Delhi and Moscow rely on each other

Russia’s respect for India’s policy of strategic autonomy is the core strength of bilateral ties, as the Indian foreign minister’s latest visit proves

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s five-day official visit to Russia was timely and significant for more than one reason.

India and Russia had held annual summits at the leadership level since 2000. This sent an important message in terms of the value attached by the two countries to bilateral ties, but it also conveyed a broader geopolitical message to other international partners of the two countries.

But this practice was broken largely because of Russia’s pre-occupation with the Ukraine conflict and its fallout. The last annual summit took place in 2021.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin could have held a summit on the margins of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in South Africa or the G20 summit in New Delhi, but Putin did not attend either. While Jaishankar’s visit does not substitute for a summit meeting, it was intended to fill a political gap.

Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have met six times during the year, and the Indian external affairs minister also met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov during the year on the economic agenda. For Jaishankar to visit Russia before the end of the year, undeterred by the Russian winter and holiday season, reflects the importance both sides attach to the further expansion of ties.

Putin has on several occasions praised the Indian prime minister and positively noted the country’s economic progress. At the ‘Russia Calling’ Forum in early December this year, he said that despite pressure from others, he “cannot imagine that Modi could be frightened, intimidated or forced to take any actions, steps, decisions that would at variance with the national interest of India and the Indian people.” He noted that sometimes he is surprised at Modi’s tough stance on Indian national interests. He added that the policy pursued by Modi is the “main guarantor” of the developing bilateral ties.

This is high and unusual praise by Putin. It can be interpreted on several levels – particularly as an acknowledgement that India has resisted pressure from the US and others to condemn Russia over the Ukraine conflict, impose sanctions, and reduce defense ties with Russia. India has, on the contrary, bought discounted Russian oil to the point that Russia has become its biggest oil supplier. It has argued that ensuring this market flow of Russian oil has helped avoid a major spike in oil prices and checked global inflation. Indian-Russian trade has expanded, while the G7 has broken economic and trade ties with Russia.

India played a major role as G20 president in negotiating the part in the Leaders’ Declaration on the Ukraine conflict despite the hardening of the G7 position and that of Russia and China after the G20 summit in Bali. The final text does not mention Russia by name, while the G7 was satisfied that the general formulations in it could be sold as being directed at Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

Not surprisingly, Putin complimented India for de-politicizing the G20. India chaired the SCO summit in July 2023 and participated in the BRICS summit in South Africa in August 2023. This countered G7 attempts to isolate Russia diplomatically. In fact, the New Delhi SCO Declaration spoke of more effective global institutions, a more representative, just, and multipolar world order based on international law and multilateralism, and criticized the unilateral application of economic sanctions – a clear critique of the Western-dominated global system.

It is against this backdrop that Putin received Jaishankar at the Kremlin, the first time that such a gesture has been made to him personally. The general unavailability of Putin to visiting foreign ministers is well-known.

Jaishankar delivered a personal message from Modi to Putin. During the meeting, Putin invited his “friend Modi” to visit Russia in 2024 and noted that Indian-Russian ties were on the whole developing well. He said that he had been briefing Modi on developments in Ukraine, remarking that he understands the Indian prime minister is willing to do his utmost to resolve the matter by peaceful means. He added that he would give additional information to Jaishankar on Ukraine.

India has continued to strengthen ties with the US, including in the defense domain. It is a member of the Quad and a strong supporter of the Indo-Pacific concept, both of which are intended to deter China’s regional ambitions. Russia has reservations about the Quad and the Indo-Pacific concept, which it sees as the US engaging in bloc politics in Asia.

Putin’s praise for Modi and India and the gesture of receiving Jaishankar takes into consideration these realities of India’s foreign policy which are meant to safeguard the larger national interests. At the core of this is Russia’s respect for India’s policy of strategic autonomy. Jaishankar’s high-profile visit and the vigorous language used to mark the importance of India’s traditional ties with Russia would have caught Washington’s attention.

Jaishankar noted that after talks with Lavrov, “what clearly came out was that India-Russia relations remain very steady, remain very strong, they are based on our strategic convergence, on our geopolitical interests, and because they are mutually beneficial.” The two leaders discussed political cooperation within international organizations such as BRICS, the SCO, etc.

Indian-Russian trade is at an all-time high, exceeding $50 billion last year, and should pass that figure this year. It includes energy, fertilizers, coking coal, and other items, for which long term arrangements were discussed. India intends to expand investments in Russia’s oil and gas sector.

On the nuclear side, two important amendments were agreed to which will take the Kudankulam nuclear power project forward. Mutual investments, progress on a bilateral investment treaty, and the resumption of negotiations between India and the Eurasian Economic Union for a free trade agreement will be resumed in the second half of January 2024.

Moscow and New Delhi will expand cooperation in the Russian Far East. India expects a large representation from this region at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January 2024.

Connectivity between India and Russia will be critical for expanding trade ties – connectivity from western India through the International North-South Transport Corridor, and connectivity from eastern India, from Chennai to Vladivostok, and the polar route. To promote tourism, India is open to increasing the number of flights from India every week.

The talks between Jaishankar and Lavrov were comprehensive. They discussed the global strategic situation, Ukraine, Gaza, the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN, Afghanistan, UN-related matters, the challenges facing the Global South, and the building of a multipolar order. China would undoubtedly have been discussed, but diplomatic discretion here would be normal.

In the joint press conference, Lavrov spoke of prospects for more defense cooperation, including joint production of modern weapons under New Delhi’s ‘Make in India’ program, and, importantly, expressed respect for India’s efforts to diversify its defense ties. He noted bilateral cooperation in rocket engine manufacturing and satellite navigation systems.

Jaishankar’s visit was productive in maintaining the momentum of Indian-Russian ties, which have been built over 60 years, a relationship that he believes is not just about politics, diplomacy, or economics, but is much deeper.

Where India Meets Russia – We are now on WhatsApp! Follow and share RT India in English and in Hindi

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.

Podcasts
0:00
27:47
0:00
27:52

Economic and trade relations between India and Russia have also seen significant growth, with bilateral trade exceeding $50 billion in recent years, driven by energy, fertilizers, and coking coal.

How has trade level between India and Russia changed under Modi and Putin?

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

India has emerged as a major buyer of Russian oil, leveraging discounted prices to secure its energy needs amidst global volatility.

Title:

Content:   • SHARE

Toward the end of March, an unusual sequence of diplomatic visitors passed through India’s capital.

First came Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland. They were followed by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The parade continued. Next to arrive were Gabriele Visentin, the European Union’s special envoy for the Indo-Pacific; Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s foreign minister; Jens Plotner, foreign and security policy adviser to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz; and Geoffrey van Leeuwen, foreign affairs and defense adviser to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Last and by no means least were U.S. deputy national security adviser Daleep Singh, U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. There was also an online Indo-Australian summit.

The Ukraine war has exposed India’s strategic vulnerabilities in a tough neighborhood as arguably nothing else could, raising fundamental questions about the country’s global position and regional security. But, paradoxically — as the slew of recent high-profile visits confirms — the conflict has increased India’s strategic importance and, in the short term, widened its options.

Has Prime Minister Narendra Modi used this room for maneuver well? The West, even as it seeks to line up India on its side vis-a-vis Ukraine, has signaled its understanding of India’s dependence on Russia for vital defense equipment and long history of close diplomatic relations with the Kremlin.

China has been somewhat surprised to find itself on the same page as India regarding the war. Both countries abstained in a series of United Nations votes condemning the Russian invasion and have maintained their communication channels with the Kremlin despite Western sanctions. China has been asking for restoration of “normal” bilateral relations with India, which have been in a deep freeze since violent border clashes in June 2020 killed 20 Indian soldiers. “The world will listen when China and India speak with one voice,” Wang reportedly stated on his recent visit to Delhi.

Russia, no doubt eager to thank India for “understanding” the Kremlin’s position, has offered the country economic incentives — notably, discounted oil and gas and affordable fertilizer — to dissuade it from changing its stance.

While India’s long-standing focus on “strategic autonomy” has kept it out of formal alliances, its broad geopolitical orientation has been veering toward a special partnership with the United States, notably in the Indo-Pacific. India is a member of the U.S.-led “Quad,” an informal grouping also including Japan and Australia that is widely seen as a way to check China’s regional ambitions.

India has also significantly increased its defense purchases from the West in recent years, and, with the U.S., is seeking to modernize its manufacturing base for military equipment. This process is likely to be accelerated by India’s current realization that its dependence on Russian supplies imposes significant constraints, particularly in the event of a future border crisis with China.

Singh, the U.S. deputy national security adviser, pointedly warned of “consequences” should India breach the Western-led sanctions on Russia, and he urged India to recognize the diminishing value of its close relationship with the Kremlin. “The more Russia becomes China’s junior partner, the more leverage China gains over Russia, the less and less favorable that is for India’s strategic posture,” he told an Indian TV channel. “Does anyone think that if China breaches the Line of Actual Control, that Russia would now come to India’s defense? I don’t.”

China has been pushing the BRICS grouping (of which it is a member, along with Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as models of non-Western collaboration that can ensure a multipolar world order. But Chinese blandishments toward India are unlikely to succeed if China’s leaders are not willing to reverse their military gains from unprovoked Himalayan incursions in the spring of 2020. India will accept nothing less than a return to the status quo ante of April 2020 as the price for normalizing bilateral relations. But whether it can leverage China’s overtures to achieve results on the ground remains to be seen.

Russia, meanwhile, is aware that India’s refusal to condemn its assault on Ukraine does not imply support. India has at no stage endorsed the Russian military campaign and its language has notably hardened as the war has dragged on. Indian statements now pointedly refer to the inviolability of borders, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and the inadmissibility of resorting to force to resolve political disputes, even while calling on “both sides” to pursue diplomatic negotiations.

India has also been quick to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, sending 90 tons of relief materials. As the destruction has become more intense, its aid is likely to continue. India will gladly purchase essential supplies of fuel and fertilizer from Russia at discounted rates in rubles. But its diplomatic stance and decreasing reliance on Russian defense equipment mean that it is not completely in Russia’s camp.

Still, India’s calls for peace in Ukraine would have been more credible had it taken steps to bring about that outcome. Whereas countries like Turkey and Israel have been actively engaged in peace diplomacy, India has made no effort to play a mediating role, despite at one point sending four cabinet ministers to Europe to supervise the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine. Even Lavrov suggested in Delhi that India could help “support” a mediation process.

India could have used the diplomatic attention it has been getting over Ukraine to carve out a role worthy of its aspirations for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. Sadly, its ambitions seem to have been too modest.

India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, observed in 1946 that “India, constituted as she is, cannot play a secondary part in the world. She will either count for a great deal or not count at all.” Ukraine is a test case — and the jury remains out. Will today’s India count at all?

Shashi Tharoor, a former U.N. under-secretary-general and former Indian minister of state for external affairs and minister of state for human resource development, is an MP for the Indian National Congress. © Project Syndicate, 2022

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

PHOTO GALLERY (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

How did India react to the war between Russia and Ukraine?

India did not join the Western sanctions against Russia

How has Russia/ India trade evolved since the start of the war in Ukraine?

India's purchases of Russian oil increased

How has trade level between India and Russia changed under Modi and Putin?

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

Despite this growth, a significant trade imbalance persists, with India importing about $60 billion worth of goods annually from Russia while exporting far less in return.

Title:

Content: Homepage

Modi's Russia visit shows India isn't worried about making the US mad

  • In a move likely to anger the US, Modi is visiting Russia.
  • The move signals strong ties between Delhi and Moscow, and shows the world India is pursuing its own agenda.
  • Modi is aiming to correct the trade imbalance and address China's Indo-Pacific activities.
Advertisement

In a move likely to anger the US, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Russia on Monday for his first bilateral trip after winning a historic third term in office.

Modi's two-day visit to Russia — where he is scheduled to meet with President Vladimir Putin — is significant in that it signals strong ties between Delhi and Moscow. It also shows the world that India is not afraid to pursue its own agenda.

Vinay Kwatra, India's foreign secretary, told reporters in New Delhi that issues between Russia and India have "piled up" and "need to be addressed," per Bloomberg.

Russia's relationship with India goes back to the Cold War, and trade between the two countries has grown since Russia started the war in Ukraine. India is a major buyer of Russian oil. Russia is also India's biggest arms supplier.

Advertisement

Kwatra underscored that the two countries' trade relationship has remained "resilient."

Still, Modi's trip will "rankle many Western observers," Ved Shinde, a researcher and contributor to Australia's Lowy Institute think tank, wrote in a note on Wednesday.

"Since the Ukraine war began, India's purchase of cheap oil from Russia has been seen as profiting from troubles in the heart of Europe," Shinde added.

Modi's visit to Russia will make the US look bad

Just like Putin's visit to supply-chain hot spot Vietnam, India's engagement with Russia isn't a good look for the US, as it comes while Washington is isolating Putin's regime.

Advertisement

The US has raised "some concerns" about India's relationship with Russia with New Delhi, Kurt Campbell, the US Deputy Secretary of State, said last month.

However, Washington acknowledges that India's ties with Russia are different from its ties with the US.

"We have many areas of alignment, but it is not surprising that there would be areas where we've had perhaps different perspectives, views, historical ties," Campbell said about America's relationship with India.

India, for its part, is looking to balance its relationship with the world's key powerbrokers — the US, Russia, and China.

Advertisement

"There are different degrees in India's multi-alignment. Make no mistake — the United States and its allies are more consequential for India's future than its relationship with Russia," wrote Shinde.

India needs to leverage its historical ties with Russia to secure its economy and security, so Modi isn't just in Russia for a goodwill trip.

Reducing the trade imbalance

A key agenda item for the visit is to reduce a huge bilateral trade imbalance, said Kwatra.

India imports about $60 billion of goods a year from Russia, but Russia buys less than 10% of this amount from India, per Bloomberg.

Advertisement

Modi may also touch on China's activities in the Indo-Pacific region, said Kwatra.

India is trying to manage its relationship with China, which has been testy since a border dispute in 2020. Modi skipped the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kazakhstan last week.

There's also the matter of Russia's ties with China.

At the summit last week, Putin said Russia's relationship with China is in the "best period in history."

Advertisement

Modi now needs to cozy up to Putin to counter China's advances.

"The reason for the time-tested stability in India-Russia ties is to maintain a continental balance in the Eurasian heartland. That is, to balance China," wrote Shinde.

"Or to put it another way, don't go around making new adversaries when there are already two open fronts — China and Pakistan," Shinde added.

Politics India Russia
Advertisement

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

To address this imbalance, India and Russia have signed agreements to boost trade and joint investment projects, particularly in Russia’s resource-rich Far East region.

Title:

Content:
India and Russia signed a program of cooperation to boost trade and joint investment projects in Russia's Far East Region during Modi-Putin talks on Tuesday. At the same time, they agreed to strengthen connectivity and security linkages in the Eurasian space and Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The 22nd Russia-India Annual Summit will lead to a greater collaboration between the two countries in Russian Far East and the Eurasian space, including the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), according to experts.

The 81-paragraphbilateral Joint Statement underscored the "shared vision" to enhance transport and connectivity cooperation, as well as a "solid commitment" to enhance economic linkages in Russia's resource-rich Far East, Pravesh Kumar Gupta, an Associate Fellow at New Delhi-based think tank Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), told Sputnik India.

The 22nd Annual Summit, a "unique and pivotal event in the current global geopolitical context" according to Gupta, exposed the disappointment of Western countries.

"Amidst global turbulence, the summit served as a crucial platform for leaders to engage in constructive discussions and strategic dialogues, with the aim of bolstering cooperation in vital areas such as trade, energy, connectivity, defence, and technology. This event has been widely acknowledged as a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the close ties between India and Russia, a success that stood in stark contrast to the disappointment felt by the Western world," the Indian think-tanker asserted.

Lauding the Summit outcomes, Gupta remarked that the leaders would intensify effort to develop "promising production and marketing chains in Eurasia" and stick to the new plan for the Far East in providing enhanced cooperation in different sectors, including transport and connectivity.

Specifically both leaders shared a vision pointing to three projects – International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor as well as the Northern Sea Route (NSR), or the Polar Route.

"Most importantly, these connectivity projects are free from any political agenda, unlike the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as clearly mentioned in the joint statement. Their implementation will be based on the principles of transparency, broad participation, local priorities, financial sustainability, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations," the VIF pundit underlined.

Gupta expressed confidence that the proposal to establish a joint working group on developing the NSR would speed up the project, which promised "significant cost savings and reduced shipping times" for goods traveling between Europe and Asia.

"The route's increased accessibility due to melting Arctic ice has sparked increased interest in its potential for commercial shipping and trade, offering a bright future for global trade," Gupta stated.

In the context of the INSTC, the expert underscored that it could turn out to be the most "cost-effective and favourable" connectivity project to increase Indian exports to Eurasia and vice-versa. He explained that the 7,200-kilometre-long multimodal corridor was in line with Moscow's geo-economic focus on Asia-Pacific following the Ukraine conflict.

Russia, India To Implement The Idea of A 'Greater Eurasian Space'

In terms of bolstering cooperation in Asia-Pacific, or near India's own neighbourhood, Modi and Putin shared approaches on building a "new architecture" of a 'Greater Eurasian space'.

Although, initially Russia was focused primarily on the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, the Ukrainian conflict completely changed the situation, Alexey Kupriyanov, an expert in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) at Moscow-based think tank IMEMO RAS told Sputnik India.

At the same time, the think-tanker highlighted that a growing trade turnover between Russia and India was pushing Moscow to return to the Indian Ocean Region, primarily to ensure the protecting of Russian vessels in areas not covered by Indian Navy's operations, which include the Red Sea and the Mediterranean region.

"In the long term, this means that Russian ships will soon operate more intensively in the Indian Ocean and expand their presence," Kupriyanov stressed.

It would bolster India's security efforts and help it manage the power competition between China and the US, even as Indian Navy has intensified inter-operability with western maritime forces in recent years, the expert asserted.

"Since India's focus is primarily on the eastern part of the region, Russian ships in the western part could help fill the vacuum of security there. This will reduce the need for East African countries to seek help from China and the US to combat pirates, smugglers and drug traffickers," Kupriyanov concluded.

(With Inputs From Agencies)

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

In what regions do India and Russia have common strategic interests?

Connectivity projects such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chennai-Vladivostok route are critical components of their economic strategy, aimed at enhancing trade linkages.

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

These connectivity initiatives are designed to be free from political agendas, contrasting with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and emphasize transparency and respect for sovereignty.

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is another key project, promising significant cost savings and reduced shipping times for goods traveling between Europe and Asia.

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

India and Russia have also discussed building a ‘Greater Eurasian space’ as a new architecture for cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

In what regions do India and Russia have common strategic interests?

Amidst global geopolitical shifts, India has sought to balance its traditional ties with Russia while diversifying its partnerships, particularly with the United States.

How did India react to the war between Russia and Ukraine?

India did not directly oppose Russia's actions

India did not join the Western sanctions against Russia

What has negatively affected India/ Russia current relationship?

Russia’s growing alignment with China, described by Putin as being in the ‘best period in history,’ adds complexity to India’s balancing act in the region.

What has negatively affected India/ Russia current relationship?

Why is maintaining a relationship with Russia important for India?

India’s involvement in the U.S.-led Quad, which is seen as a counterbalance to China’s regional ambitions, has raised concerns in Moscow about bloc politics in Asia.

What has negatively affected India/ Russia current relationship?

The Ukraine war has exposed India’s strategic vulnerabilities but has also paradoxically increased its importance on the global stage, providing it with greater leverage in its foreign policy.

India has not endorsed Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, emphasizing respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, while countering Western attempts to diplomatically isolate Moscow.

How did India react to the war between Russia and Ukraine?

India did not directly oppose Russia's actions

India did not join the Western sanctions against Russia

Why is maintaining a relationship with India important for Russia?

The India–Russia relationship is further influenced by India’s rivalry with China, particularly in the context of border disputes and regional security dynamics.

Why is maintaining a relationship with India important for Russia?

Why is maintaining a relationship with Russia important for India?

India leverages its historical ties with Russia to maintain a continental balance in the Eurasian heartland, countering China’s growing influence.

Why is maintaining a relationship with India important for Russia?

Why is maintaining a relationship with Russia important for India?

The deployment of S-400 missile systems by both India and China along their disputed border underscores the strategic importance of advanced defense capabilities in this rivalry.

China’s promotion of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as models of non-Western collaboration contrasts with India’s demand for a return to the pre-2020 border status quo for normalizing relations.

Russia’s respect for India’s policy of strategic autonomy remains a core strength of their bilateral ties, allowing India to navigate its complex geopolitical environment.

Prime Minister Modi has been praised by President Putin for his tough stance on Indian national interests and his resistance to external pressures, particularly from the U.S., regarding the Ukraine conflict.

How did India react to the war between Russia and Ukraine?

India did not directly oppose Russia's actions

India did not join the Western sanctions against Russia

What has negatively affected India/ Russia current relationship?

India’s strategic autonomy is also reflected in its decision to purchase discounted Russian oil, which has helped stabilize global oil prices amidst the Ukraine crisis.

How did India react to the war between Russia and Ukraine?

India did not directly oppose Russia's actions

India did not join the Western sanctions against Russia

How has Russia/ India trade evolved since the start of the war in Ukraine?

India's purchases of Russian oil increased

In what fields are India and Russia cooperating?

While maintaining its ties with Russia, India has significantly increased its defense purchases from the West and is collaborating with the U.S. to modernize its military manufacturing base.

How did India react to the war between Russia and Ukraine?

India did not directly oppose Russia's actions

India did not join the Western sanctions against Russia

What has negatively affected India/ Russia current relationship?

India’s decreasing reliance on Russian defense equipment indicates a shift in its strategic orientation, even as it continues to value its partnership with Moscow.

How has Russia/ India arms trade evolved since the start of the war in Ukraine?

The evolving India–Russia relationship under Modi and Putin reflects a complex interplay of historical ties, strategic interests, and the challenges posed by shifting global alliances.


South Korea has developed one of Asia's most advanced waste management systems by implementing a garbage levy system in 1995, which transformed waste treatment models, public perception, and living habits.

The country has achieved an 80% recycling target for plastic bottles through a Pigouvian Tax that penalizes producers and incentivizes manufacturers to adopt plastic reduction measures.

Taiwan's 'Resource Recovery 4-in-1 Program,' launched in 1997, mobilizes the government, manufacturers, consumers, and licensed recycling enterprises to share financial costs and ensure fairness in waste management.

Residents in Taiwan actively participate in waste sorting, facilitated by a dual truck system that separately collects general waste and recyclables at specific times.

Singapore meticulously classifies waste into categories such as paper, plastic, and glass, achieving a solid waste recycling rate of 51.7% in 2020 through centralized services licensed by the National Environment Agency.

Shanghai implemented strict waste separation measures in 2019, dividing domestic waste into recyclables, hazardous waste, wet waste, and dry waste, with high fines for non-compliance.

The Nordic countries have achieved a 90% recycling target for plastic bottles, showcasing their success in waste sorting and recycling systems.

Finland has achieved a 99% recycling rate for municipal solid waste, with only 1% ending up in landfills, thanks to comprehensive reforms and advanced waste sorting systems.

The Finnish city of Espoo transformed a closed landfill into an industrial center that generates electricity and processes secondary raw materials, exemplifying innovative waste management practices.

Finland's success is attributed to the collaboration between central and local authorities, citizen awareness, and the active participation of energy companies in recycling waste into energy.

South Korea has developed one of Asia's most advanced waste management systems by implementing a garbage levy system in 1995, which transformed waste treatment models, public perception, and living habits.

Title:

Content: Hong Kong ’ s slow progress in environmental governance – why not look at the Greater Bay Area and the world?
Author: Liu Mengting
Published: Updated:
In 2005, the SAR Government proposed to develop a recycling economy, that is, to reduce the environmental burden by repairing, recycling and extending the service life of materials, to find a way out for recycling recyclable materials, and to promote the development of related industries and promote economic diversification.
However, more than a decade later, Hong Kong ’ s circular economy has not made much progress.
In this regard, some scholars suggest leveraging the advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
At the same time, Hong Kong ’ s waste management policy is not yet climate, and we must match the experience of “top students ” such as Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.
Circular Economy Enemies the Greater Bay Area
Professor Patrick Poon, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has been developing a patented technology for converting waste glass into environmentally friendly bricks since the 1990s, with a view to improving the recycling efficiency of waste glass.
Green brick is a kind of concrete brick, can effectively use construction waste and waste glass, the third generation of green brick has been put into the market as paving brick.
For more than 20 years, the technology has been optimized by scholars to the fifth generation, but it is still “technology without market ”.
In an interview with "Hong Kong 01" recently, Poon mentioned the two main reasons why the development of the local green brick industry is hindered, which is also the dilemma faced by Hong Kong's circular economy.
Pan Chih-sheng says that the research on green bricks has been successful, but the price is not competitive. (photo by O'Cara)
One of the main reasons is that local manufacturing has caused the high enterprise products to lose market advantage. Poon analysis, because the whole production process of environmentally friendly bricks produced in Hong Kong is completed in Hong Kong, and the land price and labor in Hong Kong are very high, and the price has also risen with the water. It is necessary to open up the market to achieve maximum trade liberalization, so the possibility of contractors choosing Hong Kong materials for profit considerations is very low.
On the other hand, the Hong Kong government has not introduced relevant policies to require the actual use of environmentally friendly materials, in the absence of just the premise, the market share of environmentally friendly bricks is unstable, and the current use of the third generation of environmentally friendly bricks is about 20% more expensive than natural sand bricks, so the project side may not consider the use of environmentally friendly bricks.
Another major obstacle is that the government did not help. Pan Zhisheng pointed out that environmental protection bricks are made of recycled materials, although the quality and performance of the bricks are not lost to natural sand and stone, but the quality difference is greater.
However, according to the existing government regulations, the two are regarded as the same, that is, the quality of environmentally friendly materials is too high, but it may still be regarded as unqualified due to the degree of quality difference. This single regulation is a constraint for the application of environmentally friendly bricks. If the outlook does not improve, it will be more difficult to attract investors.
Under such a vicious cycle, the government has no intention to invest or give support, and the environmental protection brick industry chain has become a dead end.
The recycling rate of local waste in Hong Kong is low, and exports are facing many restrictions.
In an interview with Hong Kong 01, Wong Woon-chung, director of the Johan Centre for Applied Forestry Research in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), Hong Kong Baptist University, pointed out that the land resources in Hong Kong are tight, such as the opening of a recycling plant for recycled materials will double the cost.
Mr Wong stressed that the circular economy requires complementary advantages from different regions. There is no way out if the development vision is limited to Hong Kong. (photo by Mr Cheng Tze-feng)
Waste management in Hong Kong is inefficient and should be seen around the world
South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan implemented waste levies in 1995, 1996 and 2000 respectively. Since then, they have gradually developed comprehensive and mature environmental policies with local characteristics.
Hong Kong's waste management system has been fragmented for many years, and it is time to look at the world and learn from advanced experience and thinking.
Hong Kong ’ s waste management policy has not been good for many years, and the climate should be on par with other regions. (Photo by Tsai Cheng-pong)
Korea has introduced waste utilization measures in a multi-pronged manner to achieve long-term management, so the Korean waste management system is at the forefront of Asia.
For example, the city of Seoul, which has achieved the most remarkable results, introduced a series of supporting measures in a few years to change the entire waste treatment model, public perception of waste and living habits after the implementation of the garbage levy system in 1995.
In contrast, the Hong Kong Government is always "discussing" with the industry and "considering" the initiatives of environmental protection groups.
Taiwan is also a leader in waste management in Asia.
The Taiwan government sent a special cleaning team to collect household waste from residents using two types of recycling trucks – yellow garbage trucks are used to collect general waste from residents using official garbage bags, and white garbage trucks are used to collect raw and cooked food waste, plastic and other recyclable resources.
As early as 1997, the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency launched the "Resource Recovery 4-in-1 Program", which fully mobilized the role of the government, manufacturers, consumers and licensed recycling enterprises in waste management, not only to skillfully distribute the financial costs, but also to reflect the principle of impartiality.
Singapore has a small population, similar to Hong Kong, but the waste recycling work is more professional and centralized.
In Singapore, three waste management enterprises are licensed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to provide waste collection and recycling services to residents in different parts of the country. The waste is meticulously classified into paper, plastic, glass and metal, and the garden waste is collected separately.
In the recycling process, incineration plants reduce the volume of waste by 90%, and then use 3% of non-incineration and non-recyclable waste to landfill to reduce the environmental burden.
According to statistics, Singapore ’ s solid waste recycling rate reached 51.7% in 2020, a model that Hong Kong can learn from.
As for the administrative efficiency of the Mainland, it is also worth reflecting on the Hong Kong government. In July 2019, Shanghai implemented what has been described as the “world ’ s most stringent ” waste separation measure.
First of all, its domestic waste is strictly divided into four categories, namely recyclables, hazardous waste, wet waste and dry waste; secondly, if individuals or units do not dispose of garbage in accordance with the classification, they will be punished with severe high fines.
Under the mandatory implementation of the government, Shanghai residents have achieved good environmental protection results after experiencing "pain".
The Garbage Levy Ordinance has already been introduced, but the Government must not be complacent about it, but must think about how to tie in with the Ordinance in the next step, and adopt a systematic and comprehensive thinking to achieve long-term waste management.
Leave a comment...

The country has achieved an 80% recycling target for plastic bottles through a Pigouvian Tax that penalizes producers and incentivizes manufacturers to adopt plastic reduction measures.

Title:

Content: Producer Responsibility System Waste Reduction Policy Package in Place
Comments ‧ World Situation 2022 / 08 / 06
Share:
Share:
On average, more than 5 million plastic beverage bottles are disposed of in landfills in Hong Kong every day, reflecting the poor results of plastic reduction and recycling.
Under the long-term initiative of environmental organizations such as Green Earth, the environmental protection department is preparing to introduce relevant producer responsibility schemes (PRS) to respond.
In simple terms, PRS usually uses financial means, such as bottle fees and glass bottle levies, to induce "producers" such as manufacturers, retailers and even consumers to shoulder their due environmental responsibility.
Effective laws and regulations are indispensable to improve the industrial chain
PRS This waste management regulation is slightly different from the common pollution control regulations. To promote source waste reduction and recycling, effective regulations and the support of the entire recycling industry chain are indispensable.
First, the recycling industry chain, which includes high-coverage front-line collection points, large and small transport fleets, adequate recycling and recycling plants, a market for valuable recycled materials, and PRS system managers.
To promote the formation and effectiveness of the recycling industry chain, we must first have "smart" regulations, in which the setting of ambitious recycling targets, attractive economic incentives (such as refunds by bottle or bottle), and a reward and punishment mechanism for manufacturers are all key elements.
For example, the EPD recently proposed that each plastic bottle should be given a refund of at least one dime, hoping to achieve a recovery rate of 40% in the first year and 75% in five years.
Is there a “tooth ” for this purpose?
Hong Kong 's plastic recycling performance is poor PRS International
Green Earth analyzed a number of countries and regions that use PRS to manage beverage containers, and concluded that the average refund amount for each plastic bottle is more than HK $1, which is 10 times less than the corner of Hong Kong.
As for the average recovery rate target for the first year of PRS, the international average is above 70%, of which 80% in South Korea in Asia and 90% in the three Nordic countries are high; even if the target is lower, Lithuania and Slovakia are also 55% and 60% respectively, which are much more positive than Hong Kong's 40%.
The reason why PRS is called producer responsibility, the key word is the word "producer", which means that this stakeholder is responsible.
I would like to remind the environmental protection department that the recycling responsibilities of manufacturers and importers must not be missed.
The most direct approach is to set up an adequate reward and punishment mechanism to ensure that if the manufacturer fails to meet the recycling target, it must bear the responsibility, so that it can be matched with the "responsibility system".
Set up incentive mechanism to encourage manufacturers to respond positively
South Korea, a model student of high plastic bottle recycling, has adopted the Pigouvian Tax: if the market fails to meet the 80% recycling target, producers, importers and PRS system administrators have to pay the corresponding punitive tax on a proportional basis.
The author also believes that, in fairness, if the recycling rate exceeds the target, or the market adopts a considerable plastic reduction package (such as naked buy, reuse container sales), there should be corresponding incentives to promote the positive response of manufacturers and create a source of plastic reduction culture.
At a time when the Government has not yet submitted the PRS Bill to the Legislative Council, the Legislative Council (especially the Panel on Environmental Affairs) has the responsibility to monitor the quality of the policy and request the Administration to respond positively to the following key points:
1. Disclose the results of the EPD ’ s 2021 plastic bottle public consultation, including supporting the proportion of different refund amounts;
2. Keep up with the international standard, the minimum refund amount should start at HK $1;
Third, update the recovery rate target: 70% in the first year of policy implementation, and increase to 90% in three years;
Fourth, set up a review mechanism: if the recycling target is not reached within the deadline, then increase the legal minimum amount of refunded bottles, increase the economic incentive; at the same time, compared with the Piguet tax, manufacturers, importers, PRS system managers must be jointly responsible for the failure to meet the target.
Author: Liu Zhaolang Senior Project Director, Green Earth
Column name: GREEN FORUM
Follow the latest financial news analysis, like hket Facebook

Taiwan's 'Resource Recovery 4-in-1 Program,' launched in 1997, mobilizes the government, manufacturers, consumers, and licensed recycling enterprises to share financial costs and ensure fairness in waste management.

Residents in Taiwan actively participate in waste sorting, facilitated by a dual truck system that separately collects general waste and recyclables at specific times.

Title:

Content: Bauhinia Party ｜ The Dilemma and Countermeasures of Hong Kong ’ s Waste Management System
Author: 01 Forum
Published: Updated:
Author ： Shi Lei
The author believes that many of the current garbage collection disputes have been implemented to the feasibility level, in fact, are related to the inadequacy of the behavior system of residential areas to place garbage, and some of the shortcomings have not been collected garbage bags to make up for.
Its shortcomings mainly include: almost all residents of the garbage can be carried out 24 hours (such as a fixed garbage room and a long "business hours"), each residents of the garbage room often let the residents put garbage into (super) large garbage bins, and each garbage room corresponding to the number of residents, resulting in if there is a "black sheep" do not buy a levy garbage bag to throw garbage, they can walk without obstruction.
Property companies or FEHD contractors may have to wait for a long time before they find a "bad horse" in the process of comprehensive garbage disposal, but at this time it is difficult to claim responsibility, which leads to the "polluter pays" principle in fact is empty words.
The recent Jordan fire has also reminded all walks of life in Hong Kong that there are a large number of "trivial" old tenements in the most prosperous city center in Hong Kong, with chaotic personnel, lack of property services, and unethical behavior, resulting in a large number of public safety risks.
In these places, even property fees are difficult to ensure that the tenants pay in full, and how can the executive power to ensure the implementation of the levy garbage bag system? If the measures to effectively and timely remove the "black sheep" from the institutional level can not be designed, and the implementation level will be discounted for various "objective reasons", then it will form the behavior of "bad money driven away from good money".
Soon, no one will follow the requirements of the levy garbage bag system to do, and the criticism is rife, may the next government will abolish the annoying garbage collection system as a "moral government".
Refer to the garbage disposal policies of representative regions of the world, you can see that their garbage classification, collection of garbage bags and other systems are "devil in the details", often in the geographical environment, the unwritten rules of behavior in the residential community, and institutional protection, etc., to ensure that timely detection, isolation and failure to classify, pack and dispose of garbage according to the system requirements, and minimize the possibility of "black sheep".
For example, in the European Union, Belgium, where I lived, they have long promoted charging garbage bags.
Similar to Japan, Korea and Taiwan, residents have a fixed time to throw garbage (usually early in the morning on certain days), and garbage bags containing garbage should be placed in designated places.
It can be imagined that there is no requirement for garbage bags to be filled with garbage, but the specified bags are filled with garbage that should not be loaded or excessive garbage will be rejected.
The main way of living in the city of Leuven, where the author was at the time, was a single building or an apartment building (but the floor is usually no more than 10 floors, and the residents do not exceed 50 households). Once the garbage bags are found to be not in compliance with the regulations, whether it is the city government or the apartment manager, the difficulty of tracing is not great, and the surrounding residents will actively cooperate.
For example, Japan, Korea and Taiwan are using garbage levies to regulate the classification of citizens and reduce waste. The above areas must use the volume charge, through the use of garbage charging plastic bags to implement polluter pays.
In addition to requiring residents to place garbage (in the correct bag) in the designated location at the specified time, Japanese and Korean garbage bags are more meticulous in sorting.
For example, Japan, which is more familiar to Hong Kong people, requires transparent bags (not limited to specific models but must be transparent, can be tied) to quickly confirm that the garbage classification is correct, and the bag is combustible garbage, plastic, metal cans, etc., or non-recyclable and non-combustible waste.
Recyclable waste paper, etc., does not need to buy a separate garbage bag, but needs to be properly wrapped. Although Japan has a much higher density of living than EU countries, neighbors will pay more attention to not sorting garbage and will not delay the action.
South Korea's recycling rate is also more than 50%, the main reason is the strict classification of garbage bags, different from a kind of paid garbage bags in Hong Kong, South Korea is a variety of paid garbage bags, and each garbage bag can only contain one kind of material, and according to the difficulty of recycling to determine the price of garbage bags, the more difficult the recovery, the higher the price of garbage bags.
As a result, South Korea ’ s recovery rate is higher.
As for the Taiwan region, in addition to adopting a regular garbage collection mode similar to Japan, in the area where there are no conditions to set up a garbage room, there is a garbage truck and recycling truck every night, and the song of the snow truck comes to the small area.
This requirement is even higher, and residents need to actively show up at a specific time, so recycling workers can more accurately and timely eliminate the "black sheep" that do not pack garbage according to regulations, and therefore refuse to accept or take other measures.
It is worth pointing out that I have only visited Japan, Korea and Taiwan on short trips, and only stayed in commercial hotels.
Therefore, details such as the garbage system in residential areas are indirectly obtained through online KOL sharing, live scene dramas and other channels.
Please note that there are errors.
From this, it can be seen that the problems existing in Hong Kong's current waste management system and the waste management experience of advanced regions abroad have produced the following suggestions that deserve serious consideration and reference by the Hong Kong Government and relevant departments:
1. Improve the behavior system of residents throwing garbage.
First of all, the public garbage room and the garbage disposal place in the residential area should no longer be allowed to throw garbage 7x24 hours.
To consider formulating standards, such as limited delivery time and designated delivery points, for the reference of the entire Hong Kong property management industry, the FEHD will implement them to prevent the "black sheep" from evading garbage bag charges.
2. Strengthen the management of "no matter" areas, standardize the premises and methods of refuse collection in areas where property services are lacking, and ensure that the refuse charging system can be effectively implemented even in these problem areas.
3, with reference to the practices of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other places, after the successful implementation of the garbage collection system, it continues to optimize, the implementation of more detailed garbage classification management, according to different materials and recycling difficulties to carry out differentiated charges.
This will increase the willingness of the environmental protection industry to handle high-difficulty waste, while increasing the residents ’ enthusiasm for sorting and waste reduction.
Critics may think that the institutional construction of these areas requires a long period of time and a large amount of resources to invest, and may not be able to be directly replicated in the real environment of Hong Kong.
Moreover, the improvement of the relevant system requires no small investment of resources.
Perhaps this is precisely the original intention of the SAR Government to levy a "short and fast" garbage levy.
However, it is already clear that the "short and fast" has only attracted doubts, and even if it is forced to push forward, it will also be at the expense of the government's recognition.
Moreover, the "black sheep" can not be effectively eradicated in a timely manner, which will inevitably make the garbage collection system become "half suspended". Only a few able and willing citizens are willing to do so (such as cooperating with "green in the area", and working hard even in the hot sun at the recycling point to deliver their own recyclable plastic waste to the recycling point of respectable citizens). Go your own way, the system cost has been paid a lot, and the problem to be solved by the garbage levy is still the same.
No matter what kind of solution is adopted, the government will need some time to refine the design of the refuse collection system and promote it more vigorously.
The implementation of the principle of garbage collection in the European Union, Japan and Korea, and Taiwan is not completed in three or two months.
Garbage collection needs the long-term cooperation of residents, change the long-term behavior habits can be completed in a few months?
How can this be called good governance and good governance? If you cook for the government, you can't be anxious and work hard for the government for a long time, you can only make a well-intentioned system truly have the positive meaning it should have.
The author is a researcher at the Bauhinia Institute for Policy Studies.
The article is only the opinion of the author and does not represent the position of Hong Kong 01.
Please email us at 01view @ hk01.com.
Please attach the author ’ s real name and contact details.
If not applicable, no notice will be given.

Singapore meticulously classifies waste into categories such as paper, plastic, and glass, achieving a solid waste recycling rate of 51.7% in 2020 through centralized services licensed by the National Environment Agency.

Shanghai implemented strict waste separation measures in 2019, dividing domestic waste into recyclables, hazardous waste, wet waste, and dry waste, with high fines for non-compliance.

The Nordic countries have achieved a 90% recycling target for plastic bottles, showcasing their success in waste sorting and recycling systems.

Finland has achieved a 99% recycling rate for municipal solid waste, with only 1% ending up in landfills, thanks to comprehensive reforms and advanced waste sorting systems.

Title:

Content: Finland is the European leader in municipal solid waste recycling
Today, 11: 56 AM
Photo: vantaanenergia.fi
It took a little more than 20 years for Finland to almost completely abandon the landfill of solid municipal waste.
At the same time, giant landfills, even if they are closed, are not reclaimed here, in the Russian sense of the word, but turned into a source of income.
Currently, 99% of the country ’ s garbage is sorted and recycled.
Only 1% of the total amount of MSW produced has a chance to end up in a landfill.
One of the largest closed landfills is located in the satellite city of Helsinki – Espoo.
Its area is comparable to 280 football fields and is almost 200 hectares.
It is not surprising that after the closure, an industrial center was formed on its territory, in which enterprises for the generation of electricity and heat from landfill gas, as well as enterprises engaged in the processing of certain types of secondary raw materials (waste paper and glass) are concentrated.
In Ekpoo is the headquarters of the famous Finnish energy company Fortum.
It occupies a special place in the circular economy of waste.
In particular, it is engaged in the processing of plastic.
Up to 95% of the plastic in the waste generated by the Finns goes to its plant in another satellite city of Helsinki, Riihimäki.
Here, in automated production, plastic is sorted, cleaned, crushed and granulated.
According to experts, about 22 percent of all plastic waste is recycled in Finland.
The maximum percentage of plastic that can be recycled reaches about 80 percent, and they are striving to come to this figure in the coming years.
Non-recyclable plastic waste enters the furnace, where during combustion, heat is released, which, thanks to turbines and a water heating system, becomes electricity and hot water.
Containers without garbage trucks and five containers on chips
One often hears the astonished stories of relatives and friends living in St. Petersburg about how separate garbage collection is organized in Helsinki.
Visiting the Finnish capital in recent years has not been difficult.
Of course, a simple tourist is not up to landfills and thoughts about where and who takes waste, but there is something that will not remain without the attention of travelers.
A resident of St. Petersburg, Alexander often went on business trips to the capital of Finland, Helsinki.
He says that in some neighborhoods of the city there are containers that are not serviced by garbage trucks.
Our company for business trips often rented apartments, garbage from them had to be taken out by yourself.
You know, it is very unusual, not only to sort waste into five types (biomass, paper, mixed waste, cardboard and plastic), how much to understand that the containers are equipped with sensors that, when filled, report this to the waste control panel and the garbage is pumped out of the container via a pneumatic pipe, immediately getting to the recycling point.
Not everyone has access to such containers, but only residents of the microdistrict, since a special key-chip is needed to open it, - Alexander.
Such a waste sorting and collection system has been developed and implemented by the Finnish company Marimatic.
The technology is called MetroTaifun.
So far, it is only available in one suburb of the capital.
As its developers write, the entire system is automated, from each container its own pneumatic pipe delivers waste directly to the plant, where when raw materials arrive, its processing begins (additional sorting, grinding, pressing, etc.).
Perhaps, this will look like in the future the treatment of municipal waste in large megacities.
It's tomorrow's business.
What's today?
Large metropolis surrounded by recycling facilities
The peculiarity of the “garbage reform ” in Finland is that the country started it later than other European countries, so it could take advantage of other people ’ s experience and avoid mistakes.
The main thing on which the bet was made was to find ways to prevent waste from reaching landfills.
To do this, a separate collection of waste was introduced, which captured not only container sites and households, but also stores, as well as the manufacturers of goods themselves.
In cities, waste-free fast food and restaurants are not uncommon, hundreds of entrepreneurs find new niches for the use of secondary resources (for example, they produce fabrics from threads of previously used things), open second-hand and much more.
In almost every shopping center there are vending machines for receiving containers.
Around Helsinki, in its cities satellites built a network of sorting stations.
They specialize in certain types of waste.
All stations are located almost within the city limits.
Organic waste, which is usually the source of the garbage smell, is immediately taken to the plant for composting.
The whole process here is automated and produced in containers isolated from the environment.
Residents of neighboring high-rise buildings do not even think about what kind of object for sorting, recycling or recycling is located nearby.
The strict sanitary and environmental standards adopted in the country do not give any chance for environmental pollution.
Unsorted waste and so-called "tails" in the metropolitan area are taken to the incinerator in Vantaa.
There, the first incineration line was launched in 2014, the second in 2020.
The construction was not cheap - 300 million euros.
The plant is operated by Vantaan Energia.
Every day it receives up to 150 tons of waste.
According to the company on the website, the plant can burn up to 400 cubic meters of waste per second.
Every five seconds, he burns the annual volume of garbage produced by a Finnish family of three.
The German technology known as the Düsseldorf System is used here: the combustion temperature is about 1000 degrees Celsius, from the waste receiving bin it enters the rolls, where it is crushed and gradually lowered into the combustion chamber.
Thus, the filtration system eliminates harmful emissions.
Every year about 700 tons of various materials, mostly heavy metals, are extracted from flue gases and disposed of by Ekokem in Riihimäki (another suburb of Helsenki).
Slag is exported to the Emmassuo landfill, and gravel bottom slag is used in earthworks.
Now the company is testing a technology that allows the use of the ash formed.
The main difference from the German analogue - ignition is made by gas, not fuel oil.
The plant has built a bunker that allows you to store waste in reserve so that the technological process does not stop.
After all, the incinerator is also a thermal power plant, which produces 920 gigawatt hours of district heating per year, which is almost half of the needs of the city of Vantaa, and 600 gigawatt hours of electricity, which is 30% of the needs of Vantaa per year.
According to environmentalists, such production is more economical refers to resources, since fossil fuels are practically not used here.
The combined effect of producing such a volume of heat and electricity allows us to talk about a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, compared with the fact that the TPP operated on traditional fuels.
The reasons for this success were commented by the co-chairman of the Green Shield environmental society, editor-in-chief of the Ural Meridian news agency Alexander Anikin.
The main distinguishing feature of Finnish reform is the correct emphasis.
Garbage was immediately considered as a source of energy.
Therefore, energy companies have joined the recycling process, which are used to being responsible for both the quality of services and environmental friendliness.
The tasks were immediately global - to sort and return to circulation secondary resources, as well as to prevent the simple storage of waste at landfills.
It is this approach that radically changed the industry, making it strategic from purely communal.
Innovation and technology can and should be adopted, as our northern neighbor does.
It ’ s also a lesson we need to learn.
Sign up now

The Finnish city of Espoo transformed a closed landfill into an industrial center that generates electricity and processes secondary raw materials, exemplifying innovative waste management practices.

Finland's success is attributed to the collaboration between central and local authorities, citizen awareness, and the active participation of energy companies in recycling waste into energy.

Title:

Content: Ukraine will deepen cooperation with Finland in the direction of household waste management.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Regional Development, this was announced by the Minister of Communities and Territories Alexey Chernyshov during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Ukraine Päivi Laine.
It is noted that in Finland, only 1% of waste ends up in landfills, the vast majority is recycled.
This is the result of the interaction of the central and local authorities, as well as the awareness of citizens
Ukraine is also planning to adopt this experience.
“Finland is a country that demonstrates high standards of environmental waste management.
Almost all the citizens of this country sort the garbage.
As a result, 99% of household waste is recycled.
This experience will be useful for Ukraine.
So, a similar process is already underway in hromadas - in 1725 settlements of our state, a separate collection of household waste has been introduced.
But it is necessary to scale this direction and introduce useful practices of international partners in the country, "Chernyshov said.
Read alsoIn the Odessa region on the Danube, the dam is destroyed - under it meter voids In the press service reminded that thanks to the implementation of separate collection of garbage in 2020, about 6.3% of household waste was recycled and disposed of in Ukraine.
In turn, Laine noted that Finland is ready to share experience and help Ukrainian communities to implement waste processing projects.
“We also have companies that recycle waste into energy.
In such a comprehensive way, we improve the ecology of our country, ” she added.
Waste recycling in Ukraine
As UNIAN reported, in July 2020, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the first reading the draft law No. 2207-1-d “On waste management ”.
The document establishes the procedure for the collection, removal and treatment of waste, ensures the introduction of their separate collection and recycling, provides for the requirements for the quality of the provision of waste management services and the charging of fees for such a service.