Neighbours

The government has significantly streamlined procedures for clearing FDI applications of neighbouring countries including China, with quicker decisions, and regular inter-ministerial committee meetings to ensure approvals are processed within the set timelines, an official said. The number of pending foreign direct investment (FDI)proposals from countries sharing land border with India under the provisions of Press Note 3 is less. Under Press Note 3 of 2020, the government has made its prior approval mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share land border with India. These countries are China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Afghanistan. As per that decision, FDI proposals from these countries need government approval for investments in India in any sector. "The government has streamlined a lot the procedures for clearance of applications coming under Press Note 3 of 2020. The time taken to decide on these applications has also come down significant

In this backdrop, it is an opportune moment to look at the quantum of aid provided by India to different countries

China places Sri Lanka on top of its neighbourhood diplomacy and supports it in safeguarding its sovereignty, President Xi Jinping told his Sri Lankan counterpart Anura Kumara Dissanayake during their meeting here on Wednesday. After their meeting, the two countries signed several agreements to boost bilateral ties, an official statement here said. Xi expressed China's readiness to usher in a new era of development in bilateral ties and called on the two countries to have a keen grasp of their relations from a strategic perspective and jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, it said. Dissanayake, who arrived here on Tuesday on a four-day visit a month after travelling to India on his first overseas trip since assuming office in September, was given a ceremonial welcome at the Great Hall of People, following which both the Presidents held talks. After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several bilateral documents on the cooperation plan for .

He further affirmed confidence that President Dissanayake's talks with Prime Minister Modi today will lead to greater cooperation

Instead of asking voters about their own preferences, pollsters are asking them to predict who their neighbours will vote for-adding a new twist to political polls

India's Act East Policy focuses on building ties with Asean countries to promote peace, economic collaboration, and cultural ties while also acting as a counterweight to China's growing influence

Bangladesh is just the latest example of disquiet in India's neighbourhood. We need to show renewed respect to our neighbours

The Nepali territory will not be allowed to be used for any activities against its neighbours, the Nepali Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak said on Monday, assuring India that no such activity against the neighbouring country would be entertained by the Himalayan nation. The minister gave this assurance during his meeting with India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who paid a courtesy call on him to discuss matters of bilateral interest and concerns, a Home Ministry statement said. "Acknowledging India as Nepal's important partner in security, infrastructure, energy, and water resources sectors, the Home Minister Lekhak expressed gratitude to India for its contributions to the enhancement of competency of Nepal's security forces and the infrastructure development," the statement said. On the occasion, the home minister pledged that no activities against the neighbouring countries would be entertained in the Nepali territory. "Nepal's territory will not be allowed to be used for any ...

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will pay a two-day visit to Bhutan beginning Friday, in his first trip abroad after assuming charge of the top post. In Bhutanese capital Thimphu, Misri will meet Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel and Foreign Secretary Pema Choden among others, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said while announcing the visit. The foreign secretary's visit underscores the "highest priority" the government of India attaches to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy, it said. Misri will also receive an audience with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, according to the MEA. In their talks, Misri and Choden are expected to carry out a comprehensive review of the bilateral ties, including issues having mutual security interests, people familiar with the visit said. "Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will pay an official visit to Bhutan from July 19-20, which will be his first visit abroad after taking over as the foreign secretary," the M

Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs wrote to India on Monday, asking for India's assistance to search for the missing buses and passengers

Recent trends in Myanmar civil war make a case for India to upgrade its links with anti-junta forces

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that India's ties with all neighbours, except China and Pakistan, have improved significantly compared to previous times. Speaking during a media interaction here to underscore India's diplomatic strides in the region, Jaishankar said India's relationship with China was "challenging," but the country was "confident" and capable of protecting its interests. "We have a challenging relationship with China. But this is a country which is today confident, which is capable of advancing and defending its interests, and in a competitive world, we will compete," he said when asked whether the Chinese interference in small countries around India is a matter of concern. The minister dismissed the suggestion that India has more unfriendly neighbours than it had a decade ago. "Please go to Bangladesh and ask people what they think. Please ask in Sri Lanka. During their deepest economic troubles, who stood by them? Go to Nepal and ask them

Stressing it was essential for an 'average person' to actively engage with foreign policy matters, EAM Jaishankar said, "Certainly, all Indians need to take more interest in foreign policy

Unlike Pakistan, Indonesia has harnessed its natural advantages to nurture a sustainable growth trajectory

India will share the PM GatiShakti initiative with some of the neighbouring countries free of cost as the infrastructure planning tool is helping in effective planning and implementation of projects, a top government official said on Tuesday. The initiative was launched to develop an integrated infrastructure to reduce logistics costs. Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Rajesh Kumar Singh said that as India has rolled out the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in seven countries, the country similarly wants to showcase and integrate the PM GatiShakti initiative also. "We want to showcase it and roll out and integrate and provide it free of cost to some of our neighbouring countries and eventually to other countries in the global south as a part of India's commitment to the global south," Singh said here at a function. Over 1,400 layers of data, including those related to land, ports, forests, and highways, are available on the PM GatiShak

This was Bhutan's fourth general election since transitioning from a traditional monarchy to a parliamentary form of government 15 years back

The rules lay out how companies can list their shares in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) housed in the Gujarat International Financial Tech City (GIFT)

General elections are scheduled to be held in Pakistan within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly, which was prematurely dissolved on August 9

MENDING FENCES: South Asia outreach was crucial to Modi government's foreign policy. With the upcoming India visit of Nepalese PM, ADITI PHADNIS examines what has worked - and what hasn't

Some are discovering the virtues of deeper integration with the country