In a major leap in bilateral economic relations, India and Thailand on Friday finalised modalities for implementing the first phase of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries from September this year under which they will start tariff redu
The Canadian high commissioner to India was summoned to the ministry of external affairs and informed about the decision to expel the senior Canadian diplomat.
'Many said his visit was very risky. But mercifully, Air Force One has taken off from Delhi without Mr Trump stepping on anybody's toes,' notes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
'It seems a wiser decision to pull out at the right moment than regret after joining the pact,' explains Dr Rahul Mishra.
Seeking to give new impetus to the bilateral relations, India and Malaysia today formally announced firming up of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to boost trade and decided on a range of other engagements in various sectors, including defence.
China had been trying hard to enter the Indian market, without opening its own to Indian products. There is an economic crisis in India-China relations that the Chennai Connect barely scratched the surface, points out Srikanth Kondapalli.
The US is open to a Free Trade Agreement with India but wants bilateral economic engagement to increase further, a senior US government official said.
Modi, flanked by Trump, on Monday categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation on Kashmir.
In a major development, India and the US have agreed to end six trade disputes at the WTO through mutually agreed solutions, while New Delhi will remove retaliatory customs duties on certain American products such as almonds, walnuts, and apples.
In the absence of progress on services negotiations in the WTO, India is sending a team of officials to Europe to strike a deal in the services area with the EU under the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held wide ranging discussions with Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian in Tehran and their discussion focused on the long term framework for India's involvement with the strategically vital Chabahar port and the North-South connectivity project.
Besides addressing a high-level meeting of the US-India Business Council at Washington on June 17, Sharma will hold discussions with the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. During his three-day engagements, the commerce and industry minister would meet US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and US trade representative Ronald Kirk.
In his media statement after the meeting, Modi said he and Prachanda have taken many important decisions to make the partnership between the two countries a 'super hit' in the future.
'We have to keep a watch because India-Sri Lanka has a history that whenever there has been a change in government, either the connectivity projects have been questioned or cancelled or revived.'
'The two sides agree to continue firmly supporting each other in safeguarding their respective core interests,' a joint statement issued at the end of Muizzu's talks with Chinese leaders said.
RBI, Sri Lankan central bank agree on $1.5 bln currency swap deal.
During the meeting, Gantz emphasised the opportunity to invest further in defence cooperation between the two countries.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to hold separate bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang and Russia's Sergey Lavrov at a beach resort in Goa on Thursday on the sidelines of a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) amid rapidly evolving regional security situation.
UAE's promise of $50-bn investment in Indian infra won't be included.
Joe Biden will embark on his maiden visit to India as United States Vice President on July 22 to discuss key bilateral issues, including trade, energy and defence, to make Indo-US ties the most important strategic partnership of the 21st century.
Canada has expelled an Indian diplomat as it was investigating what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called 'credible allegations' of the involvement of 'agents of the Indian government' in the killing of a Sikh extremist leader in Surrey in June, claims outrightly rejected by New Delhi as 'absurd' and 'motivated'.
The main issue has been that of a higher Asset Management Ratio as has been prescribed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore for qualifying full banks from India.
India and Japan on Monday held talks to revise their tax treaty in a move to facilitate bilateral business investment, officials said in Tokyo.
Bangladesh on Thursday agreed in principle to India's proposal for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement to boost economic cooperation and solve issues relating to tariff and non-tariff barriers.\n\n
India has been probing hundreds of black money cases.
Modi announced a USD 14-million grant for community development projects in the Caricom and another USD 150 million line of credit for solar, renewable energy and climate- change related projects, a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Holding that transparency, predictability and upholding the rule of law are essential for better ties, a senior American diplomat today said the US is keen to restart work on a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with India for deepening economic relationship.
Biden praised India's Covid vaccination efforts.
Norway on Thursday offered its expertise and cooperation to help India meet its energy needs even as its Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said
The deployment of the UK's "most advanced naval capabilities" has been flagged by the UK ministry of defence as a "decisive step" in bolstering UK-India security ties.
In his pre-departure statement, he said trade ties between India and Russia can increase even further, to benefit not only the two nations but also the world.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made a clear break with the past on UK-China relations as he declared that the "so-called golden era" of bilateral ties is over in the face of the "systemic challenge" posed by the Chinese regime to British values and interests.
The 'Holi celebrations' event was organised by the Governor in the honour of the visiting dignitary and his delegation.
Shigeru Ishiba is expected to prioritise strengthening Japan's military capabilities and fostering deeper international partnerships, particularly with India, with whom Japan shares significant strategic interests, explains Dr Rajaram Panda.
Close on the heels of the Indian team's visit to Thailand for discussions on bilateral free trade agreement, FICCI president Y K Modi met Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok to promote business ties between the two countries.
'He is seeking to harness the power of Indian Diasporas to national (support for India in global capitals) and political (enhance the Bharatiya Janata Party's support base) ends.'
