The Ganga-Volga Dialogue was held between India and Russia in New Delhi. The dialogue focused in providing interface between the civilizations of the countries. The dialogue prioritized people-to-people contact. According to Russia, the dialogue acted as a good platform for its policy of “Greater Eurasia”. The Dialogue was held on the following theme Theme: Connectivity
The Dialogue also focused on Digital Connectivity, culture, tourism, healthcare, manufacturing
technology, economy, entrepreneurship, etc. The aim of the dialogue is very similar to the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Proposals Discussed
The dialogue discussed the following key proposals
1)The impacts of rapidly changing international situation.
2)Ways of implementation of decisions taken in India-Russia Summit held in September 2019 at
Vladivostok. As an outcome of the summit India agreed to extend a line of credit of 1 billion USD in order to develop far east Indian companies of Russia.
3)The development of economic activities in the riverine systems of Ganga and Volga.

During the dialogue India placed its state of not being into any military alliance in the Quad grouping. This is important for India to keep its trade and defence relations between with Russia and USA balanced. Also, India’s policy of SAGAR Indian Ocean were also discussed. The relations between India and CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) were also discussed.

Quad grouping :

1)Indo-Pacific Quadrilateral also known as Quad Group is a closed group consisting of India, Australia, Japan & USA.Japan pioneered the initiative in 2007 as a coalition of maritime democracies.

2)First Official quad talks were held in Manila, Philippines in 2017

3)Securing a rules-based global order, liberal trading system and freedom of navigation are believed to be the guiding principles.

4)It aims to contain a rising China and its “predatory” economic and trade policies.The purpose is also to provide alternative debt financing for countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

5)Report on stability was recently launched by four think tanks from the Quad countries at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF).The report was published by Quadripartite Commission on Indian Ocean Regional Security, which put out a series of 20 policy recommendations for stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

6)It recommended that the four countries should work to oppose the establishment of permanent Chinese military bases in the IOR.