New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS): A trilateral dialogue between the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC) is being held here Sunday. The ministers will discuss issues related to economic growth, terrorism and drug trafficking, among other things.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid is to hold bilateral meetings with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi separately at Hyderabad House in the evening.

The three would then meet for the 12th Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Russia, India and China trilateral dialogue.

The RIC meeting is taking place in the backdrop of the evolving scenario in the Middle East and North Africa as well as the upcoming 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali.

The three are expected to discuss issues related to these during the meeting as well.

Russia, India and China have been interacting trilaterally since 1996. The 11th round of the RIC foreign minister's meeting was held April 13 last year in Moscow.

The total population of these three countries is around 2.4 billion, 40 percent of the world's total. The three together cover about 22.5 percent of the total area of the Earth and are endowed with rich human and natural resources and huge market potential.