Notwithstanding its continued refusal to allow the naming of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council, China on Monday joined India and Russia in condemning terrorism and calling for a stronger international partnership to counter it.

“We reaffirm that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable irrespective of their motivations, committed wherever and by whomsoever,” said a joint communique issued at the end of the 15th Russia, India, China (RIC) Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi.

“We call for greater unity, stronger international partnership and concerted actions by the international community in addressing the menace in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereign equality of States and non-interference in their internal affairs,” it added.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj led the Indian delegation at the trilateral meeting which was also attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Releasing the communique at a joint press interaction, Swaraj said, ‘’While discussing terrorism, I put across my view that significant rise in acts of terrorism by terrorist organisations like Taliban, Daesh, al Qaeda and LeT directly undermine international peace and security and endanger ongoing efforts to strengthen the global economy and ensure sustainable growth and development.’’

At her bilateral meeting with Wang, she emphasised that both India and China must enhance mutual trust so that they can develop a better understanding of each other.

There must also be regular high-level meetings between the two countries without a specific agenda, she added.

Wang is the first top Chinese official to visit India after the tense 70-day military standoff between the two nations at Doklam earlier this year.

The joint communique said the three countries underlined the primary and leading role and responsibility of States in countering terrorism and extremism.

The three nations also expressed deep concern over the threat of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorist groups, including the use of chemicals and biological agents for terrorist purposes.

China and Russia reiterated the importance they attach to the status of India in international affairs and support its aspiration to play a greater role in the UN, the communiqué said.

Despite China’s aggressive posturing over the South China Sea, the three countries agreed to support freedom of navigation and over-flight rights based on the principles of international law in an effort to boost maritime trade.

On Afghanistan, they reiterated their support to the Ashraf Ghani government and the people of the war-torn nation in their efforts to achieve Afghan-led, Afghan-owned national peace and reconciliation.

They expressed deep concern over the tension on the Korean Peninsula as a result of the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes of North Korea.