India, China and Russia on Wednesday sought “democratisation” of international relations and a “just and rational” world order but said their ambitious trilateral cooperation was not targeted against any other country or organisation.

“The trilateral cooperation is not targeted against any other country or organisation and is intended to promote international harmony and mutual understanding and seeks to broaden common ground amidst divergent interests,” Foreign Ministers of the three countries said in a joint communique at the end of their third standalone meeting in this city of northeast China, in an apparent message to the US and others.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and their Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov exchanged views on the international situation and reaffirmed that they would abide by the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and other accepted principles of international law.

“They further emphasised that they would continue to promote democratisation of international relations and evolution of a more just and rational international order,” the communique said.

The three Foreign Ministers believed that development of China, Russia and India was a “major contribution” to peace and development of the region and the world and was beneficial to the process of global multi-polarity.

Mukherjee, Yang and Lavrov emphasised that multilateralism and collective action should be promoted in addressing urgent issues and meeting new challenges and threats.

They underlined the role of the United Nations and the need to strengthen the role of the world body to meet the various problems and challenges facing the international community more effectively. They also called for reform of the UN.

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