Moscow, Aug. 21 -- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday underscored India's commitment to a balanced and strategic partnership with Russia, highlighting energy cooperation, trade, defence collaboration, regional diplomacy, and global governance during a joint press interaction with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"India and Russia have been among the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War. Geo-political convergence, leadership contacts and popular sentiment remain its key drivers," Jaishankar said, underlining the historic nature of the ties.

On trade and economic cooperation, he said, "We reaffirmed our shared ambition to expand bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable m...