Among other things, the three nations reportedly decided to jointly oppose a US-EU sponsored move to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for violating its obligations under the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.
India has a strategic partnership with Iran, and is negotiating a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline deal from Iran to India across Pakistan. Russia is building a massive nuclear power reactor in Iran. Iran is energy-starved China's second largest supplier of oil after Saudi Arabia.
At the 60th UN General Assembly earlier in the month, Iran had warned that if reported to the Security Council, it might restart uranium enrichment and bar short-notice inspections under the IAEA's Additional Protocol.
It was also agreed by India's External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lvavrov that next year's meeting would be held in Delhi.
Photograph: Jay Mandal
Also read: India, Russia, China plan partnership