Moscow: Brushing aside speculations about an India-Russia-China "strategic triangle," Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has said these countries only enjoy "prominence" in Moscow's foreign policy.

"I wouldn't construct any triangles in these relations. There are other Asian countries also, like Japan and South Korea, with which Russia needs to develop its ties," Ivanov said on December 22.

The speculations about a strategic triangle is no more than the product of "some minds," he said.

Speaking in the weekly "Vremena" (Times) analytical programme of the "Channel 1" national TV network, Ivanov said that India and China "simply enjoy prominence" in Russia's foreign policy and the course of strengthening co-operation with them was not directed against anyone.

"Russia has an objective interest in developing relations with India and China and this policy was not stimulated by the Balkan war," Ivanov said commenting on his predecessor Yevgeny Primakov's idea of a trilateral co-operation between New Delhi, Moscow and Beijing, floated in 1998 after North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces bombarded Yugoslavia.

He, however, agreed that the combat against international terrorism, formation of a multi-polar world, strengthening the role of the United Nations in global affairs and economic co-operation objectively bring the three countries together.

PTI