Former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran writes: China is firmly in Russia's corner – India needs to take note

Xi Jinping's state visit to Russia from March 21 to 23 is of greater significance than is apparent in most analytical comments in India and abroad. It carried forward the promise of the "no-limits partnership" and "no forbidden areas of cooperation" contained in the February 4, 2022, Sino-Russian Joint Statement issued during Russian President Putin's visit to Beijing for the Winter Olympics. That was before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine later that month. If there were doubts whether the promise of a more substantive strategic partnership between the two countries would survive the Ukraine crisis, the answer is clear….