The leaders lauded positive progress in the ASEAN-India relations since the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the bilateral ties in January 2018, while reaffirming determination to foster the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. ASEAN leaders hailed India’s support to the association’s central role and efforts for regional connectivity and the building of the ASEAN Community. The two sides agreed to continue bolstering their comprehensive partnership, especially in areas of mutual benefit such as economic, trade and investment; finalising negotiations for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); promoting connectivity and sustainable development, narrowing development gaps, and boosting digital growth. They will work together in optimising opportunities from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, strengthening maritime cooperation, aviation connectivity and people-to-people exchange and … [Read more...] about PM joins ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit in Singapore
India
As India eases citizenship path for Hindus, Rohingya Muslims fear expulsion
By Zeba SiddiquiJODHPUR/JAIPUR, India (Reuters) - Nar Singh can vividly recall the day in 2014 when Narendra Modi promised to provide refuge to Hindus suffering around the world. The 39-year-old shop owner sat awestruck inside his two-bedroom house in Pakistan's eastern Mirpur Khas district, as Modi's voice boomed from the television during his successful campaign to become India's prime minister."If there are atrocities on Hindus in Fiji, where will they go? Should they not come to India? If Hindus are persecuted in Mauritius, where should they go? Hindustan!" Modi declared to a roaring crowd.gi For Singh, whose grandfather had been born in British-ruled India before the bloody partition that led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Modi's words resonated deeply. "He spoke so wholeheartedly, it felt like a warm invitation," said Singh. "I was so proud and happy."Living in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where Hindus say they often face religious discrimination and hate crimes, Singh had … [Read more...] about As India eases citizenship path for Hindus, Rohingya Muslims fear expulsion
Ikea wants to clean up India’s skies by turning waste into products
In New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, one part of the sickly haze in the air often comes from nearby rice fields, where farmers burn straw after harvesting. When the wind blows in the wrong direction, massive clouds of smoke settle over the city, making it dangerous to breathe outside. The smog–which also comes from cars, and is made worse by weather patterns that trap air overhead–is sometimes so thick it causes car accidents. For farmers, who have to quickly prepare fields to plant wheat, setting fires seems like the only option. But Ikea now wants to give them another. Farmers will be able to sell the unused part of rice plants to the home furnishing giant, which wants to turn it into a material for new products. “We saw the fields around here being burned and thought, well, what if we can turn that burning into a material instead, and create something good out of it, and something good for the small-scale farmers as well?” says Helene … [Read more...] about Ikea wants to clean up India’s skies by turning waste into products
President of India to visit Việt Nam
President of India Ram Nath Kovind. — Photo timesofindia.indiatimes.comViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — President of India Ram Nath Kovind and his spouse will pay a state-level visit to Việt Nam from November 18 to 20. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit will be at the invitation of Party General Secretary, President Nguyễn Phú Trọng. Việt Nam and India set up their diplomatic ties on January 7, 1972. In 2007, the Việt Nam-India relationship was lifted to strategic partnership level, with a focus on politics-diplomacy, national defence-security, economy-trade, energy, science-technology and culture-education. Following the visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2016, both sides upgraded their strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership to meet demands in the new situation. In March this year, then President Trần Đại Quang and his spouse paid a State visit to India. The … [Read more...] about President of India to visit Việt Nam
ASEAN-India network of universities established
The ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit Leaders of ASEAN and India welcomed the positive developments in the bilateral ties since the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit (in New Dehli, January 2018) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations. ASEAN leaders highly praised India for its central role and efforts to beef up regional connectivity and building of the ASEAN community. The two sides agreed to continuously broaden the comprehensive ties especially in domains of common benefits including economics, trade, investment; early finalize negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); endorse sustainable growth; narrow the development gap; develop digital technology; optimize opportunities from the 4.0 industrial revolution and maritime cooperation including green aquatic economy, aviation connection, people-to-people exchanges, education, and tourism. Indian PM Narendra Modi expressed … [Read more...] about ASEAN-India network of universities established