MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/. A Russia-India trans-Arctic container shipping line was on agenda of a working visit, which Minister for Development of the Far East and Arctic Alexey Chekunov paid to India, the ministry reported on Tuesday.
A key topic of the meeting with India's Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal was using the Northern Sea Route (NSR) for reliable and safe cargo transportation.
"The ministers have discussed an alternative route to transport cargos from India to Europe - not by the southern or western routes, but by the eastern route via NSR, using both Russian and Indian port facilities. <…> The cost to ship to India a container from Vladivostok is 30% lower than from Moscow," the Russian ministry reported. "Promising directions for cooperation are: the organization of a Russia-India trans-Arctic container shipping line, the construction of handling facilities along NSR, and expanding the fleet."
At a meeting with India's Deputy Minister of External Affairs Dammu Ravi, the parties discussed, among other issues, social aspects. The Indian side demonstrated interest in having specialized Russian-Indian educational programs and a student campus in the Far East. Medicine, IT, and engineering would be key directions.
"In India we have seen a sincere, true interest in Russia, which is based on the long history of friendship between our countries," the press service quoted Minister Alexey Chekunov as saying. "We are ready to continue the dialogue with the Indian side, where the main objective is to launch discussed projects."
"Another round of talks will be in Moscow in April on the platform of the Corporation for the Development of the Far East and Arctic," he added.
Following the meeting in India, the parties will consider direct flights between the countries - to stimulate mutual tourism which presently does not reflect the realistic potential.