India believes that by roping Russia in the initiative, the inclusive nature of the initiative will be underlined and bilateral cooperation will be boosted further

India has made constant efforts to rope Russia in for an Indo-Pacific initiative and it seems to be gaining traction as the two countries discussed the possibility of a trilateral track 2 with Japan, said a Times of India report.

India is working on connectivity and other projects with Japan in the Indo-Pacific region, including in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Africa.

Foreign secretary Harsh Shringla discussed the proposal for Russia-India-Japan trilateral mechanism with the Russian deputy foreign minister Igor Morgulov, on August 4, said the report.

As per the authorities, the proposal aims to encompass practical aspects of working together for joint investment and development projects. The idea was first discussed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japan counterpart Shinzo Abe to the Russian Far East last year, said the Times of India report.

The report said that India believes that by roping Russia in the initiative, the inclusive nature of the initiative will be underlined and bilateral cooperation will be boosted further.

"India and Russia share common interest..that the Indo-Pacific region becomes a region of peace, stability, and economic prosperity so that no country seeks unilateral advantage at the cost of the entire region," the report quoted Indian ambassador to Russia D B Venkatesh Verma as saying in Moscow.