Page 12 - Bilateral Ties

India's heart with US rather than China-led trade pact RCEP: Piyush Goyal

At a session with Chinese and US trade ministers, Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said India did not join China-led RCEP as its trade deficit would have widened and New Delhi's "heart" is with Washington, hinting at the trade surplus with the US. The Commerce and Industry Minister's remarks at the B20 summit in the national capital while moderating the 'Trade Ministers' Session' where Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister in the Ministry of Commerce of China and US Trade Representative Catherine Tie were present. Goyal asked Wang if Beijing regretted that India chose not to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). To this, Wang said China and India's trade relationship has been growing very fast and last year, the bilateral trade reached USD 130 billion. "If there had been an FTA agreement between China and India, either bilaterally or in RCEP context, the trade potential (that) exists between our two countries will be much further tapped in to the benefit of our tw

Brics calls for nations to work together on post pandemic economic recovery

BRICS leaders on Thursday urged the international community to support countries working towards post pandemic economic recovery and address the high debt levels in some nations. At the end of the BRICS Summit in South African capital, the grouping released the Johannesburg II Declaration that stressed on G20 -- a larger grouping of world's biggest economies -- playing the role of the premier multilateral forum to seek solutions to global challenges. The leaders stressed on the importance of encouraging the use of local currencies in international trade and financial transactions, and sought strengthening of correspondent banking networks between the BRICS countries and enabling settlements in the local currencies. They tasked finance ministers and central bank governors to consider the issue of local currencies, payment instruments and platforms. "We recognise the important role of BRICS countries working together to deal with risks and challenges to the world economy in achievin

EAM Jaishankar, Lavrov exchange views on bilateral, international issues

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday exchanged views on bilateral, international issues.The two ministers met during the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.The two exchanged views on a wide range of bilateral and international issues, interaction within the UN, G20 and BRICS, as well as discussed practical steps to further develop trade and economic cooperation, logistics and financial interaction, as per the Russian Foreign Ministry.EAM Jaishankar on Wednesday tweeted: "Pleased to meet FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. A useful discussion on recent global developments."Lavrov congratulated Jaishankar on the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon. The Foreign Ministers agreed to remain in contact.Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday told a summit of the BRICS grouping that Moscow wants to put an end to the "war unleashed by the West".He said, "The desire of a

Chinese Prez Xi calls for Brics expansion speed up, security cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for accelerating the expansion of the BRICS grouping besides efforts to jointly fend off risks by increasing the political and security cooperation among the countries of the five-nation bloc. Xi, who skipped his attendance at the BRICS Business Forum on Tuesday sparking speculation about his absence, attended the Summit here on Wednesday where he pitched for more political and security cooperation among the member countries. He was the only leader absent from the BRICS Business Forum on Tuesday, with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reading a speech in his place that had a hardline message apparently aimed at the US. Asked why Xi had not attended the forum, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin sidestepped the question, telling reporters in Beijing on Wednesday that Xi's speech had been delivered. While his speech at the Business Forum hit out at the US saying that some country, obsessed with maintaining its hegemony,

High-level delegation led by Rupala to visit Norway from August 21-24

A high-level delegation led by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala will visit Norway from August 21 to 24 to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two nations in the field of fisheries and aquaculture. Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying L Murgan is also part of the delegation along with other officers. The delegation will hold bilateral discussions with the Norwegian Ministers and other key officials on various aspects of fisheries development, resource management, research, innovation and trade, an official statement said. The delegation will also attend the Aqua Nor 2023, the biannual aquaculture exhibition and trade fair in Trondheim, Norway. The delegation will interact with various Norwegian enterprises that have expertise in different aspects of fisheries and aquaculture, such as fish health, feed, genetics, equipment, processing and marketing. The delegation will also visit some of the state of

India, China set for bilateral talks on sidelines of Brics summit next week

"I am confident that as two nations, two countries, we will have direct talks, direct meetings," at the Aug. 22-24 summit, Chen Xiaodong, China's ambassador to South Africa said

PM Modi speaks to Iranian president Raisi to discuss bilateral ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and discussed matters of bilateral and regional importance, according to a statement. The two leaders reiterated their commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, including realising the full potential of Chabahar Port as a connectivity hub. Modi highlighted that the India-Iran relationship is underpinned by close historic and civilisational connections, including strong people-to-people contact. The two leaders also discussed cooperation at multilateral forums, including expansion of BRICS, and looked forward to their meeting on the margins of the forthcoming BRICS summit in South Africa.

India, Italy to sign MoU in defence sector soon: Ambassador Vincenzo Luca

Italy's Ambassador to India Vincenzo De Luca has said the two countries would soon sign a bilateral pact in the defence sector to ramp up their military ties and maintained that Rome was working hard to contribute to the 'Make in India' programme. In a move to enhance navy-to-navy cooperation between the two countries, Italian Navy's warship ITS Morosini is on a port visit to Mumbai from August 10 to 13. Italian Navy officials will also meet the top brass of the Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command during this period. "We are working very hard to contribute to the programme of self-reliance, Make in India," Luca said on Thursday at a press conference here. He said that there are some specific technologies where Italy can add value to the Make in India programme, namely torpedo, helicopter, radar, electronic warfare and shipyard. Make in India is the Narendra Modi government's flagship programme that aspires to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill ...

China sends ships and fighter jets toward Taiwan in new show of force

China sent navy ships and a large group of fighter jets toward Taiwan, continuing its military pressure on the island, Taiwan's defense ministry said Thursday. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has regularly sent flights toward the island in reaction to the island's political activities. In the past year, it has also sent navy vessels as well as drones to circle the waters near the island. Taiwan's defense ministry said the Chinese People's Liberation Army sent 33 warplanes and 6 navy vessels between 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday. The J-10 and J-16 fighter jets flew across the midline and to the southwest of Taiwan. The ministry said in an earlier statement Wednesday that Taiwan's military tracked five of the ships as they sailed in coordination with the flights of the fighter jets. The ministry said it used land-based missile systems to track the aircraft, 10 of which crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary that had been conside

Former president of Mongolia meets Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar

Former Mongolian President Enkhbayar Nambar called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar here on Saturday. Both the leaders underlined the cherished ideals of democracy and freedom that form the foundation of India-Mongolia relations, the Vice President Secretariat said in a tweet. They also committed to further strengthen the spiritual, cultural and civilisational ties between the two nations.

India hands over Rs 45 cr to Sri Lanka to fund digital identity project

India has handed over INR 450 million in advance to Sri Lanka to fund its unique digital identity project, the most crucial step in the island nation's digitalisation programme being implemented through the Indian grant assistance. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's office here said that the fund from the government of India was given on Friday. During a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, key stakeholders, including Presidential Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka, State Minister of Technology, Kanaka Herath, Indian High Commissioner, Gopal Bagley, and First Secretary of the Indian High Commission, Eldos Mathew and others engaged in extensive discussions on the project's execution. Signifying the Indian government's commitment to the initiative, the Indian High Commissioner handed over a significant contribution of Indian Rs 450 million to Minister Kanaka Herath (State Minister of Technology), constituting 15 per cent

India, UK launch health care alliance in a bid boost bilateral ties

Professor Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS, England, said he believed that both countries face many challenges in healthcare and they have many opportunities too

EAM S Jaishankar bats for deeper bilateral India-Latin America engagement

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday pitched for deeper two way engagement between India, and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) especially in areas of agriculture, supply chain diversification and resource partnership. In an address at an event, he said New Delhi's overall ties with the region have moved on a "new trajectory" in the last nine years and there was scope to further consolidate the relations in a range of areas. "We must ensure that distance is no longer an impediment for stronger ties," he said. Jaishankar said bilateral trade has surged close to USD 50 billion during the financial year 2022-23 and it is a testament to both the strength and potential to our economic partnership". "Over the last nine years, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been at the helm, our ties have actually moved on a new trajectory," he said. The external affairs minister was speaking at the ninth CII India-LAC Conclave on the theme 'Furthering Economic Partnerships for

Pak Foreign Minister Bhutto to visit UAE today, discuss bilateral ties

During the visit, the foreign minister will hold a meeting with his United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press statement

Disturbed by trivialisation of Holocaust in 'Bawaal': Israeli embassy

Israel Ambassador to India Naor Gilon has voiced concern over the "trivialisation" of Holocaust in Hindi movie "Bawaal" released on Prime Video, saying it had "poor choice of terminology and symbolism". The Varun Dhawan-starrer has stirred up a controversy for using the Holocaust to tell a story of marital discord as earlier in the week a prominent Jewish group slammed the movie and called for its removal from the OTT platform. The Israeli embassy in India on Friday issued a statement, saying it was "disturbed by the trivialisation of the significance of the Holocaust" in the movie, directed by Nitesh Tiwari of "Dangal" fame. "I did not and will not watch the film 'Bawaal' but from what I have read, there was a poor choice of terminology and symbolism. Trivialisation of the Holocaust should disturb all," Gilon wrote on Twitter. "I urge those who don't know enough about the horrors of the Holocaust to educate themselves about it, he added. "Bawaal" follows a high school history tea

India works to bridge language divide at G20 summit over Ukraine war

Its diplomats have the difficult task to arrive at a joint communique for G20 leaders' summit in Delhi in Sept

PM Modi holds talks with Lankan president to boost economic cooperation

Wickremesinghe arrived in Delhi on a two-day visit which is the first tour of India by a senior Sri Lankan leader since the island nation was hit by an unprecedented economic crisis last year

BRICS came into being to create more just world: S African ambassador

The BRICS bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa was created to address the inequities in the current world order, South African diplomat Anil Sooklal said on Thursday. Sooklal, the Ambassador at Large: Asia and BRICS at the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, was speaking on radio station 702 after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not personally attend the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. Russia will be represented by its Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the summit. However, Putin will deliver his speech via video conference at the BRICS Summit that will take place between August 22 and 24. South Africa is the current chair of the BRICS. The ICC has indicted Putin for war crimes over accusations that Russia unlawfully deported Ukrainian children. As a member of the ICC, South Africa is expected to arrest Putin if he sets foot in the country. "President Putin decided n

EAM Jaishankar meets Sri Lanka president during leader's 2-day India visit

Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi noted that Wickremesinghe's visit will further boost the multi-prolonged partnership between India and Sri Lanka

Turkish president doesn't rule out deadlocked Cyprus peace talks restart

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday didn't rule out reviving deadlocked negotiations to resolve Cyprus' nearly 50-year ethnic division, but again rejected any deal that wouldn't offer Turkish Cypriots a state of their own. That position stands against a United Nations-sanctioned framework envisioning a federated island nation. Speaking at celebrations in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north on the 49th anniversary of a Turkish invasion that split the island along ethnic lines, Erdogan again poured cold water on Greek Cypriot hopes of forming a federation composed of Greek and Turkish speaking zones as has been the aim of talks for decades. Everyone needs to understand now that a federal solution is not possible, Erdogan said. He said that Turkey does not oppose fresh talks, but that negotiations cannot restart without recognising the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots. Prompted by a coup in Cyprus aimed at uniting the island wit