A Bi-Monthly News Digest on India's Foreign Policy	May 18th - June 1st, 2016 | VOLUME 3/8
Top Stories​ India, Iran and Afghanistan sign Chabahar port agreement Hindustan Times (Agencies) | 24thMay India signed a historic deal to develop the strategic port of Chabahar in Iran and agreed on a three-nation pact to build a transport-and-trade corridor through Afghanistan that could help halve the time and cost of doing business with Central Asia and Europe. “We want to link with the world. (The) agreement …can alter the course of history of the region,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the deal was signed in the presence of Afghan president Ashraf Ghani and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.  Sino-India ties have acquired strategic significance, says President Mukherjee in China PTI / The Indian Express | 26thMay Sino-India relations have acquired “strategic significance” and if the two countries work together they can generate “tremendous momentum” for global peace and prosperity, President Pranab Mukherjee told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. “If we come together we can generate tremendous momentum for peace, prosperity and development which will not only benefit our two people but also the entire humanity,” he said in his opening remarks during talks with Xi at the Great Hall of the People.  ​PM Modi to embark on five nation tour from June 4IANS / The Statesman | 30th MayPrime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a five nation tour from June 4 that will see him travelling to Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico. Modi will first go to Afghanistan on June 4, where he will visit Herat to inaugurate the Salma Dam that has been funded by India. He will head to Qatar on June 5 for a bilateral visit where he will hold talks with Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and economic ties, especially the hydrocarbon sector, will be high on the agenda.
South Asia Pakistan War not a solution to Indo-Pak problems: Pak envoy Abdul Basit PTI / Deccan Chronicle | 31st May War is not a solution to problems between India and Pakistan and only "foolish" people would consider such an option, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said, two days after Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan said his country has the capability to hit New Delhi in five minutes. Basit also said that Pakistan wants to resolve all issues with India through talks and that the two neighbours must have "result oriented" engagement. Asia Pacific China China is in close contact with India on Azhar Masood’s UN ban issue, say Chinese officials PTI / The Indian Express | 19th May China said it was in “close” contact with India over its efforts to put Masood Azhar on the UN list of proscribed terrorists, as it expressed willingness to step up bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation in response to President Pranab Mukherjee’s call. “The anti-terrorism situation has undergone great changes. China, India and all countries have shown greater willingness to counter terrorism,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters. Hong was responding to Mukherjee’s remarks to state-run CCTV channel saying that China joining hands with India in the fight against terrorism will have “its own impact”. Ready to accelerate border talks: China PTI / The Hindu | 24th May “China is ready to work with India to accelerate negotiations and resolve this historic issue at an early date to move forward bilateral relations,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, responding to Mr. Mukherjee’s remark that India wants a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement to solve the border issue President Mukherjee lists 8 steps to resolve issues between India, China PTI / DNA | 26th May Outlining eight pillars for the future of Sino-India ties, President Pranab Mukherjee underlined the need for resolving challenges like the boundary question through "political acumen" and "civilizational wisdom" so that the coming generations are not "burdened" by unresolved issues. Delivering a lecture at the elite Peking University, Mukherjee noted that there is bipartisan commitment to strengthening partnership with China, and said political understanding between the two countries is vital for "closer developmental partnership". Japan Arun Jaitley Meets Key Japanese Ministers, Invites Pension Funds PTI / NDTV | 30th May Keen on investments from Japan to boost economic growth, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today met key ministers in the Japanese administration and wooed pension funds to partner in India's infrastructure development. Mr Jaitley, on the second day of his six-day visit to Japan, met Japan's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso to discuss investment opportunities India presents to the Japanese investors. He held wide-ranging talks with Mr Aso to boost bilateral economic ties, official sources said. FM Arun Jaitley to 'take India story forward' with Japanese investors PTI / Business Today | 30th May Eyeing investments from Asia's second-biggest economy, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said his visit to Japan is aimed at taking India growth story forward with investors so as to make them invest in a host of sectors, including infrastructure. "We already have over a thousand Japanese companies which have invested in India. (Japanese) Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe seeks to double it and therefore, I would be meeting individually as well as collectively a large number of investors," said Jaitley, who arrived on a 6-day tour. Myanmar India offers agri equipment, technology to Myanmar PTI / The Economic Times | 19th May Looking to boost bilateral ties, India has offered to assist Myanmar in the area of public healthcare and to provide it with necessary support in boosting the country's agricultural production. Speaking at the India Myanmar Business Conclave, India's Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman acknowledged Myanmar's achievement in organic and sustainable agriculture. India can cooperate in boosting productivity by providing technology and agri equipment, she said at the meet which was attended by over 40 top CEOs from the neighbouring country. Africa India Keen To Make Morocco Its Economic Hub For Africa: Vice President PTI / NDTV | 31st May India said it wants to make Morocco the hub for its economic activities in the African region as the two countries sought to inject fresh momentum in bilateral ties with Vice President Hamid Ansari holding wide-ranging talks with the Moroccan Prime Minister. Two MoUs on cultural cooperation and institutional training were signed after Mr Ansari met Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane and delegation-level talks were held between the two sides. "We reviewed all aspects of our expanding cooperation. Morocco is crucial to us for food security as it is the main supplier of phosphate which is crucial for agriculture," Mr Ansari said as the two leaders jointly spoke to the media. African students call off protest after govt. assurance PTI / The Hindu | 31st May A group of African students in the national capital called off a demonstration to protest the spate of assaults against the community after the government assured them of better security. The students said they had a meeting with officials of the Ministry of External Affairs where they were assured of security and safety. The government officials also requested them not to go ahead with their planned protest at Jantar Mantar. India, Morocco launch Chamber of Commerce to accelerate pace of economic development PTI / DNA | 1st June India and Morocco launched the India-Morocco Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IMCCI) to accelerate the pace of economic development between the two countries. The chamber was jointly launched by visiting Vice President Hamid Ansari and Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane at a function. Middle East Iran India, Iran ask states to reject use of terror against others PTI / India Today | 23rd May India and Iran today asked all states to "explicitly reject" the use of terrorism against other countries while seeking an immediate end to all support and sanctuaries being provided to terror groups. The assertion by the two countries was made after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani with the two sides issuing a joint statement in which they vowed to deepen economic ties in areas of energy, infrastructure, connectivity and investment. India seeks rights to operate Iran oil field PTI / The Financial Express | 24th May India has sought a discovered oilfield from Iran for raising crude oil imports from the Persian Gulf nation as part of efforts to widen economic and energy ties post lifting of sanctions. Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the nation’s largest oil firm, has proposed to Iran that it be given rights to operate and produce crude oil from the discovered field to help move away from buyer-seller relationship to a strategic partnership, sources privy to the development said. The oil produced from the field can then be shipped home, the IOC has said. Europe EU wants 'misunderstandings' out before resuming FTA talks PTI / The Times of India | 30th May The European Union wants to sort out some "misunderstandings" before resuming the talks on the long-stalled proposed Free Trade Agreement with India, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. She also said that the two sides are yet to finalise the dates to resume the negotiations. Speaking to reporters, Sitharaman said the EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom has responded to her communication that had sought a meeting of chief negotiators of the two sides on the agreement. North America The United States US House approves move to bolster defence ties with India PTI / The Indian Express | 20th May The US House of Representatives has approved a bipartisan legislative move to bolster defence ties with India and bring it at par with other NATO allies in terms of sale of defence equipment and technology transfer. “It seeks to promote greater defence trade and encourage additional military cooperation between the United States and India,” Congressman George Holding said on the floor of the House of Representatives in favour of the amendment in this regard in the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA)-2017. PM Modi to visit US from June 7; will address American Congress PTI / The Times of India | 20th May Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day visit to the US from June 7 during which he will address a Joint Meeting of the US Congress and hold talks with President Barack Obama to review the progress made in key areas of defence, security and energy. At the invitation of the US President Barack Obama, the Prime Minister will visit Washington DC on June 7-8, 2016, the External Affairs Ministry announced.