Trilateral forum should be strengthened: Russia

New Delhi, Feb 16 (UNI) Describing as a ''significant step'' the India-Russia-China trilateral summit held here recently, Russian Ambassador to India V Trubnikov today said the forum can play an important role in solving the challenging problems confronting the nations.

''It was one of the most productive summit.... Efforts should be made to strengthen it,'' Mr Trubnikov told reporters here.

At the summit, he said his country spoke about using the same methods of solving the Iran nuclear problem as used for resolving the North Korean issue.

In Tuesday's pact, the Bush Administration had signed a deal that provides significant incentives to North Korea even before it completely steps back from its nuclear weapons programmme.

On the purchase of 347 T-90 tanks from Moscow, the Ambassador said Russia was prepared to fulfill India's requirements.

About the BrahMos missile, a joint India-Russia collaboration, he said Moscow had no reservation in its sale to another country.

The Ambassador also talked about the possible participation of India in the Sakhalin-III oil exploration project.

A tender for the project is expected this year-end.

Asked about expanding bilateral economic cooperation, he said a meeting of business leaders of the two countries would take place before the International trade fair in Delhi in November.

UNI