Page 24 - Bilateral Ties

Japan to reinstate South Korea as preferred trade nation from July 21

Japan announced a decision on Tuesday to reinstate South Korea as a preferred nation with fast-track trade status starting July 21, virtually ending a four-year economic row that was further strained during their bitter historic disputes. Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters that Japan and South Korea have also agreed to set up a framework to review and follow up on the systems as needed. Japan and South Korea have been rapidly mending their ties as they deepen three-way security cooperation with Washington in response to growing regional threats from North Korea and China. A reinstatement of South Korea's preferential status next month would end a four-year trade dispute that began in July 2019 when Japan removed South Korea from its white list of countries given fast-track approvals in trade as ties deteriorated over compensation for Japanese wartime actions. Japan's tightening of trade controls against Seoul was an apparent retaliation for South Korean court rulings

Wise policies being adopted by Modi in bringing co-existence: Grand Mufti

The Grand Mufti also presented a special gift to Prime Minister Modi in Cairo

PM Modi meets Egyptian counterpart, top ministers; discusses trade ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday began his maiden state visit to Egypt by holding discussions with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly and top Cabinet ministers on deepening trade relations and further strengthening the strategic partnership. Modi is visiting Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. Modi began his visit with discussions with Egyptian Prime Minister Madbouly and top Cabinet ministers to deepen trade relations and further strengthen the strategic partnership. The Prime Minister also met the Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam and interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora. He also met the members of the Indian diaspora and the Bohra community. The Prime Minister's meeting with the Bohra community members comes ahead of his visit on Sunday to Cairo's historic Al-Hakim Mosque, restored with the help of India's Dawoodi Bohra .

PM Modi's first state visit to Egypt to boost bilateral ties: Indian envoy

India's multi-faceted relations with Egypt, which was elevated to a Strategic Partnership' this year, will receive further impetus with the first state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to this key Middle East nation, India's ambassador here has said. Prime Minister Modi will be arriving here Saturday evening at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. It will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister since 1997. "We are very much looking forward to the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Cairo from 24th to 25th of June. The visit is a very historic occasion because the last bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister was as far back as 1997," Ajit Gupte, India's Ambassador to Egypt, to PTI in an interview. Modi will hold talks with El-Sisi on Sunday to discuss ways to give further impetus to the strategic partnership between the two major nations. "I am excited to pay a state visit to a close and friendly country for the first time," Modi said in his depart

Defence deals boost India-US ties, marks new era in relations, say experts

Defence deals signed between India and US during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit not only enhance India's defence capabilities, but also show growing proximity between the two countries, experts said on Friday. India and US inked a $3 billion deal for 31 High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs, of which the Navy will get 15 SeaGuardian drones. while the Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) will get eight each of the land version - SkyGuardian. Another major announcement that came was an MoU signed between GE and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to jointly produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. Former Deputy National Security Advisor Pankaj Saran called it a "new era" in India-US relationships. "This marks a new era in relationships. The key takeaway is the focus on two sectors - defence and technology. The third element is the boldness of ambition shown by both sides," Saran told PTI. "In the past also we have had summits, but in this particular summit th

PM Modi's visit will take India-US ties to next level, says Kamala Harris

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first State visit to the US will take bilateral ties in areas of space, defence, emerging technology and supply chains to the next level, Vice President Kamala Harris has said. Modi became the first Indian leader to address the joint session of the US Congress twice on Thursday. He first addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress in 2016. "The US-India partnership is stronger than ever. Together, our nations will shape the future as we work to create a more prosperous, secure, and healthy world," Harris' office tweeted on Thursday. "The partnership between the United States and India is one of the most important of the 21st century, and this visit will take our partnership to the next level from space, to defense, to emerging technology and supply chains," it said. Modi, in his response, thanked Vice President Harris for her remarks. "Our partnership indeed holds immense potential for this century. I am equally enthusiastic about elevating our ...

India's position on Russia understood in entire world: PM ahead of US visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India stands on the side of peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported

US ambassador Eric Garcetti hails strong, growing bilateral ties with India

United States Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has hailed the strong and growing ties between India and the US and described the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi there as "a prime example of the accelerated collaboration between our two countries". He made the remarks while presiding over the 247th anniversary celebration of US independence here on Thursday evening. According to a release from the US Consulate here, the event highlighted US-India areas of cooperation, including in the Indo-Pacific, gender equity, innovation, space, and climate change, while also recognising robust people-to-people ties and institutional partnerships between the two countries. Ambassador Garcetti hailed the strong and growing partnership between the US and India, particularly South India. "The deep ties between the US and India are gaining strength in many key areas and South India has a key role in the partnership. The upcoming visit to the US by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a pri

We work closely with India on our most vital priorities: US spokesperson

US partnership with India is one of the most consequential relationships and the two nations work closely on the most vital priorities, US Department of State official spokesperson Matthew Miller said

India-Russia aim for bilateral trade of $50 bn in 2023: Indian Embassy

TV BRICS covers the economic agenda of the five countries. The list of partners includes the media of all BRICS states, including India

Ukraine, India discuss implementation of Zelenskyy-Modi's G7 agreements

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone call with National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India Ajit Kumar Doval on Wednesday

India, UAE to raise non-petroleum trade to $100 bn by 2030: Piyush Goyal

India and the United Arab Emirates have mutually agreed to raise non-petroleum bilateral trade between the two countries to $100 billion by 2030, the South Asian nation's trade minister said on Monday

Are India, US poised for a breakthrough in military-industrial partnership?

Inking of India-US roadmap for military-industrial cooperation was not surprising after the spat at Shangri La dialogue between Secretary Defence Lloyd Austin and China's Defence Minister Li Shangfu

India, New Zealand hold meeting, agree to work on areas of mutual interests

India and New Zealand have held first round table joint meeting, where both sides acknowledged huge potential in a mutual partnership and need for bringing in synergy for enhanced economic relations

US secretary of state, commerce secretary to address 'India Ideas Summit'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and several top members of the Biden administration will join powerful Congressional leadership and top corporate players from India and the US at this year's 'India Ideas Summit' next week. The theme for this year's two-day summit beginning on June 12 is Trust, Resilience, and Growth and will focus on how these three organising principles underpin the US-India economic partnership across sectors. The annual summit of the US India Business Council (USIBC), which is part of the US Chambers of Commerce, gains significance this year as it comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first state visit to the US which starts on June 21. On Monday, June 12th, we're gonna have the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, come and speak to our group. We are also gonna have a session with Deputy Secretary of State Rich Verma. We are looking to see how we can lift the ambitions of the United States and India for even greater .

India-US partnership cornerstone of free, open Indo-Pacific: Lloyd Austin

Terming US-India partnership as "cornerstone" of free and open Indo-Pacific, US Secretary of Defence said that both countries have a unique role in preserving the rules-based international order

India, US firm up ambitious roadmap for defence industrial cooperation

India and the US on Monday firmed up an ambitious roadmap for defence industrial cooperation to accord high priority to various projects for the co-development of military platforms and hardware, a move that comes against the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict and China's increasing muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific region. The roadmap was finalised during talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin, two weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington. At a media briefing, Austin said the US-India partnership is a "cornerstone" for a free and open Indo-Pacific and the deepening ties showed how technological innovation and growing military cooperation between the two "great powers" can be a force for global good. The US defence secretary said the US-India cooperation matters "because we all face a rapidly changing world. We see bullying and coercion from the People's Republic of China and Russian aggression against ..

President Droupadi Murmu to embark on 6-day visit to Suriname and Serbia

President Droupadi Murmu will embark on a six-day visit to Suriname and Serbia beginning Sunday to bolster India's bilateral engagement with the two countries. In the first leg of her trip, the President will visit the South American country of Suriname from June 4 to 6. From Surinam, she will travel to Serbia in Europe for the second and final leg of her visit from June 7 to 9. "The President will be in Suriname on a state visit from June 4 to 6 at the invitation of President of Suriname Chan Santokhi. This will be her maiden state visit after she assumed the office of the President," said Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs. "The visit assumes historical significance as the President will be the chief guest at the 150th anniversary celebrations of the arrival of Indians in Suriname," he said at a media briefing. The celebrations are on June 5. Kumar said the President would be accompanied by Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti,Minister and Rama

Singapore, India explore possibility of widening engagement in education

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday held fruitful discussions with his Singaporean counterpart Chan Chun Sing on strengthening the existing ties and exploring the possibility of widening the scope of bilateral engagements in education and skill development. Pradhan, who was here on a three-day visit, also explored ways in which Singapore can partner with India to seamlessly integrate skilling and vocational education starting from the school level itself. Pradhan had fruitful conversations on further strengthening the bilateral cooperation and deepening engagements in all areas of education and skill development with Chan. Both the ministers agreed to broaden the contours of the existing partnership through institutional mechanisms, particularly towards building capacities of teachers and trainers, incorporating future skills into the education and skilling ecosystem as well as exploring engagement with special schools, and sports ...

US Trade Development Agency aims for greater India-US partnership on 5G

The workshop was an effort to convene leading industry experts and officials to exchange information on approaches, solutions, and applications of 5G and next generation networks in India