Asia News Roundup
KATHMANDU - AUG 17, 2011
THE TIMES OF INDIA : CHINA RUSHES IN WHERE INDIA FEARS TO TREAD IN NEPAL,
A jumbo Chinese delegation headed by Chinese president Hu Jintao's special envoy signed four pacts on Wednesday worth over $50 million with the caretaker government of Nepal while the turbulent republic's southern neighbour India hesitated to make diplomatic forays.
LAHORE - 14 AUGUST, 2011
PAKTRIBUNE.COM : REALISING THE ASIAN CENTURY ,
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has commended India for constituting a commission on the Kargil issue and deplored that some elements were still opposing a similar commission in Pakistan.
However, he hoped that a commission on Kargil would be constituted one day in Pakistan to find the truth. Addressing a seminar on "Building Bridges Together" in connection with Independence Day organised by the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) on Saturday, Nawaz said that Pakistan and India should have competition in economic reforms rather than competing with each other in an arms race.
KATHMANDU - AUG 13, 2011
THE TIMES OF INDIA : INDIA GIFTS 109 VEHICLES TO NEPAL ARMY,
India has gifted 109 vehicles to Nepal Army under a defence pact as a high level Indian army delegation visited the country to hold discussions with top Nepalese brass.
The vehicles were handed over as part of the continued assistance being provided by government of India for the last five years and the assistance was provided in line with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
AMRITSAR - IBNLIVE.IN.COM, 13 AUG, 2011
PEACEFUL RELATIONS BETWEEN INDIA, PAKISTAN CAN BOOST TRADE,
A Pakistani delegation comprising politicians and journalists here today said peaceful relations between India and Pakistan can bring economic development in the both the countries. Economic development of any nation can be accelerated if peace prevails on border, the delegation said at a seminar on 'Indo-Pak Relations' which was also attended by members from 'Hind Pak Dosti Manch' and Folklore Research Academy.
ASIA TIMES ONLINE, JUNE 17, 2011
JOEL D ADRIANO,' WATERS ROIL IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA',
Escalating tensions between China and Southeast Asian claimants to the Spratly Islands threaten to spill over into a full-blown conflict. The Philippines and Vietnam are at particular loggerheads with Beijing after a series of provocations that some believe show China is taking a more assertive stance on its claims in the potentially oil and gas rich maritime area.
The tension has fueled anti-Chinese sentiment across Vietnam, with thousands taking to the streets in Hanoi and Ho Chi MinhCity to protest Chinese naval operations in the disputed waters and Vietnamese hackers launching cyberspace attacks on official Chinese websites.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino, along with other claimant Southeast Asian states, has said they prefer to strike a multilateral solution to the dispute - in stark contrast to China's position of insisting on bilateral negotiations. But because China has balked at suggestions the US play a mediating role, tensions in the South China Sea are set to get hotter before cooler.
THE HINDU, JUNE 17,2011, (PG.12)
EDITORIAL: INDIA'S AGENDA AT THE SCO,
Since its formation in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has begun to establish itself as an important forum for the Eurasian region.It has China and Russia and most Central Asian states as members.In the initial years, Moscow and, to a lesser extent, Beijing used the forum to re-inject a dose of Cold War politics into the region.The regional format allows its members to involve themselves in economic and security-oriented initiatives.
Whether for fear of offending the U.S. or out of a misplaced sense of grandeur, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh preferred to keep his distance from the SCO. The Yekaterinburg summit of 2009, which he attended personally, marked a change. Last year, a formal expression of interest was made and now that the SCO, in its summit this week in Astana, has reached agreement on the criteria for membership, India is likely to join soon.
THE HINDU, JUNE 17,2011, (PG.13)
PRASHANT JHA, A REPORT CARD ON NEPAL'S PEACE PROCESS,
The peace process, largely understood as settling the future of Maoist combatants through a process of integration into security organs and rehabilitation into society, is finally moving forward.
To prepare the combatants for integration and rehabilitation, and manage internal dissent, chairman Prachanda called a meeting of the PLA general staff recently, which included commanders and deputy commanders of all seven divisions of the Maoist army. Mr. Prachanda told them he was now committed to the "peace and constitution" line, and that they should inform the fighters under them to be ready for the next stage in the process.
The Nepali Maoists are displaying much-needed commitment to the process; the non-Maoists have done well to be flexible, and there is an air of cautious optimism. The challenge now is sustaining the momentum, arriving at a detailed agreement, and meeting the tight deadlines.
BEIJING (CNN) - JUNE 14, 2011
STEVEN JIANG, CHINA BLAMES VIETNAM FOR RISING TENSIONS OVER DISPUTED SEA,
China on Tuesday blamed its neighbors for escalating tensions in the South China Sea, one day after the Vietnamese navy held a live-fire drill in disputed waters. "Some countries took unilateral actions to impair China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, released groundless and irresponsible remarks with the attempt to expand and complicate the disputes," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a regular press briefing.
The United States officially stays neutral in the disputes, despite some Congressional calls for a more forceful stance to balance China's clout. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, has expressed Washington's willingness to facilitate multilateral talks on the issue.
"China always maintains that countries directly related to the issue should conduct bilateral negotiations and friendly consultations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong said.
"China is trying to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests, not infringing on other countries' rights," he added. "Justice lies in the heart of the people."
KARACHI - APRIL 5, 2011
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE : EDITORIAL - CHINA TO REDUCE TARIFFS ON IMPORTS FROM LESS-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES,
China is providing many South Asian countries, including Pakistan, an opportunity to redress their trade deficit with the economic giant.
In lieu of its general trade policy, China will reduce tariffs imposed on 95 per cent of commodities imported from less-developed countries to zero within three years, in order to stabilize exports, expand imports and reduce trade surplus.
China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Chairman Li Jiaosho put forward three proposals to enhance investment cooperation. "We suggest Pakistan pay more attention to preparation work related to investment projects, strengthen communication and exchange with industrial chamber," said Jiaosho.
He further hoped Pakistan would improve the investment environment and provide Chinese enterprises equal entrance treatment, and practically protect legal rights of Chinese enterprises and citizens. Speakers said that several small countries were facing a trade deficit with China and the country, having realized this, has offered small countries an opportunity to come to China to display their products. As a result, these countries will be able to redress the trade balance by enhancing exports to China.
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, APRIL 1, 2011
EDITORIAL: PAK-MALAYSIA: INVESTMENT MAY TO GROW 10% ,
Investment flows between Malaysia and Pakistan are expected to grow by at least 10 per cent this year, according to Malaysian Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
"Both countries have inherent strengths which we can use and take advantage of, so we don't necessarily have to compete, but can complement each other," he said at the 'Business and Investment Opportunities in Pakistan' seminar, held in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
He underlined sectors like telecommunications, petrochemicals and palm oil which could be explored together.
Mahathir said bilateral trade was also expected to see some growth, after trade between the two countries in 2010 reached 7.991 billion ringgit.
ISLAMABAD - MARCH 22, 2011
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE : EDITORIAL - PEACE AGENDA: STABLE, PEACEFUL PAKISTAN IN SOUTH ASIA'S INTEREST
A twelve-member Indian peace delegation led by veteran journalist Kuldip Nayyar arrived in Islamabad on Monday and planted a "Tree of Hope" at the Art and Craft Village near Shakarparian.
The delegation agreed that there is a growing realization in not just the public at large, but even among the fanatic forces in India such as BJP that a stable and prosperous Pakistan is in the entire South Asian region's best interest.
The delegation and the host civil society organizations demanded that the SAARC members create a mechanism for the convention to end terrorism in the region. They also urged the SAARC countries to make the convention effective.
The peace delegation is being hosted by some members of the Insani Haqooq Itehad, namely SUNGI Foundation, Strengthening Participatory Organization, Aurat Foundation , Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, South Asian Free Media Association and PIPFPD.
The pro-peace forces should foster greater awareness in the public, mobilize them and provide them with different platforms to raise their voices of friendly and peaceful relations.
HANOI - MAY 5-6, 2011
ASIA 2050 : REALISING THE ASIAN CENTURY ,
an important publication commissioned by the Asian Development Bank has been released at the 44th Annual General Meeting of the ADB in Hanoi , Vietnam in May 2011.
An additional 3 billion Asians could enjoy higher living standards, and the region could account for over half of global output by the middle of this century, says the new ADB commissioned report.
CHINA OFFERS NEW SILK ROAD TO CENTRAL ASIA
Aral, May 01, 2011
A thousand years after the Silk Road began disappearing into the wind-blown steppe, the people of Kazakhstan are awaiting a modern, paved, high-speed version carrying 21st-century jewels such as jobs, indoor plumbing and connections to the global economy. The new Silk Road is an ambitious $7-billion project to connect China with Western Europe along a 1,700-mile highway through Kazakhstan. Just as the ancient caravans transformed the world, bearing ideas and cultures along with their perfumes and spices, Kazakhstan is counting on the modern equivalent to stimulate economic growth that would have repercussions the world over, including in the United States.
accessed on May 6, 2011
150 years of Rabindranath Tagore, the universal poet, who envisioned a world " that has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls."
It is well known that Tagore's works have been widely translated in several languages. On the occasion of his sesquicentennial year, there has been a sudden increase in translations. The Chinese who refer to him as ,'CHU CHEN TAN', meaning literally thunder and sunlight of India, are now engaged through a group of 17 Tagore scholars in translating his complete works from Bengali for the first time, instead of via English.
The Fourth United Nations Conference on 48 Least Developed Countries begins in Istanbul , May 9, 2011
This represents an opportunity to fulfill the long term commitments to reduce poverty, hunger and disease in the world's 48 LDCs. LDCs are faced with several challenges , with climate change adding to their vulnerability. The conference hopes to achieve a win win situation for all : both investor countries and the LDCs themselves. There are several opportunities that can be seized to improve the lives of a billion people and help global economic recovery at the same time..
