Page 6 - Diplomacy

Hope to work with China in upgrading shipyards and ports says Fiji leader

Fiji's leader says that after meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, he hopes to collaborate with China on upgrading his nation's shipyards and ports. Sitiveni Rabuka made the remarks to lawmakers in Parliament on Wednesday. Rabuka is generally viewed as leaning less toward China than his predecessor Frank Bainimarama, and in a visit to Australia last month, Rabuka emphasized he was more comfortable dealing with traditional friends such as Australia. But in his Wednesday remarks, Rabuka highlighted the economic ties his small South Pacific island nation has forged with China over 50 years of diplomatic relations. Rabuka said that in his meeting with Xi last week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in San Francisco, he discussed how China's assistance was pivotal to Fiji's post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Rabuka said China's Belt and Road Initiative aligned with Fiji's development agenda and that China had contributed toward a number of grants a

China prods Bhutan to establish diplomatic ties and settle border issues

China has asked Bhutan to establish diplomatic ties with it and resolve the boundary issue as soon as possible to transform the relations between the two neighbours into legal form. Bhutanese Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji who is currently visiting Beijing to take part in the boundary talks between the two countries met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday during which Wang said restoration of diplomatic ties will serve the long-term interests of both countries, a Foreign Ministry press release here said. The conclusion of boundary negotiations and the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bhutan fully serve the long-term and fundamental interests of the country and nation of Bhutan," Wang said. China is ready to work with Bhutan in the same direction, seize the historic opportunity, complete this important process as soon as possible, and fix and develop China-Bhutan friendly relations in legal form," Wang, also a member of the powerful Political Bureau of

India rejects Canada's accusation of violating norms amid diplomatic row

The Indian government on Friday rejected any notion that it had violated international law in asking Canada to recall diplomats so that both governments have roughly the same number stationed in each country. Canada said Thursday it was recalling 41 of its 62 diplomats in India after what it said was New Delhi's warning that it would strip their diplomatic immunity something Canadian officials characterised as a violation of the Geneva Convention. The back-and-forth comes amid a spat between the two countries over Canada's allegation that India was involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada. India had not publicly stated it would withdraw diplomatic immunity from the Canadian diplomats, nor did it give a deadline for their departure. But it said it wanted Canada to reduce its number of diplomats in India to match the amount that India has in Canada. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, India's Minist

Concerned over departure of Canadian diplomats from India: US State Dept

The United States on Friday expressed concern over the departure of Canadian diplomats from India and said that it expects New Delhi to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India after it threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity by Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has said, amid a diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist. We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian government's demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said. "Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground," Miller added. We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation, the State Department official said. We expect India to uphold its obligations under the 19

Indian woman spends day as British High Commissioner in New Delhi

This year's winning entry was chosen from a pool of more than 180 applications from talented young women around the country

The essentials of G20's corridor initiative

From trade to diplomacy, there is much to commend in the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor

Canada wants 'private talks' with India to resolve diplomatic dispute

"We take diplomats' safety very seriously and we will continue to engage privately because we think diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private," Canadian Foreign Minister said

Canada wants private talks with India to resolve diplomatic dispute

India has told Canada that it must repatriate the diplomats by Oct. 10, according to the Financial Times. Neither Joly nor Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded when asked if the report was accurate

India asks Canada to recall 41 diplomats from the country by October 10

India has asked Canada to recall 41 of its diplomats from the country by October 10, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Tuesday. Neither India nor Canada reacted to the report that came 12 days after New Delhi asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in India. Canada has 62 diplomats in India and New Delhi said that the number should be reduced by 41, the report said. The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case. Nijjar was shot dead by two masked gunmen on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated him a terrorist in 2020. On September 21, India asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic presenc

Nijjar killing row: India asks Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats by Oct 10

India has told Canada that if any of these diplomats stay after October 10, their diplomatic immunity will be revoked

Afghanistan has shut its embassy in India from October 1; here's why

The Afghan embassy has cited 'lack of support from the host government' to effectively carry out its duties as a reason for the suspension of all operations, barring emergency consular services

India's diplomacy touched new heights: PM at G20 University Connect

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India's diplomacy touched new heights in the last 30 days and some decisions taken during the G20 Summit have potential to change the direction the 21st century world takes. Addressing students, faculty members and heads of educational institutions at the finale of the G20 University Connect here, the prime minister said he met 85 world leaders during the past 30 days. "In today's polarised international atmosphere, it is not a small thing to get so many countries together on one platform," he said, referring to the G20 Summit in Delhi earlier this month. He asserted that clean, clear and stable governance is necessary for the country's developmental journey to continue. "I want to give you a report card of the last 30 days. That will give you an idea of the speed and scale of New India. You must remember August 23! Everyone was praying and then suddenly there was a smile on everyone's face. The entire world heard India's voice: 'India i

Amid strained ties, Canada pulling diplomats from India, citing 'threats'

Jean-Pierre Godbout, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, confirmed that Canada would be bringing some of its staff out of the country

India-Canada tensions: Multi-billion economic deals at risk if rift widens

But, experts say there may not be an immediate impact

Nations want to join Brics for unfinished biz of last century: Diplomat

As nations of the world rise to complete the unfinished business of the last century, they aspire to join the five-nation BRICS grouping, a senior Indian diplomat has said. The remarks by Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, came as he addressed business leaders and diplomats representing countries across Africa and South America at a gathering hosted by the India Business Forum of South Africa on the periphery of the BRICS Summit starting here on Wednesday. The theme of the seminar was "Harnessing Synergies: India-Africa Cooperation for Prosperity in the BRICS African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA) Landscape." Ravi described the unfinished business of the 20th century as moving away from the fight for freedom and independence from colonial rule to economic prosperity as the priority in the 21st century. With 22 countries having applied to join BRICS, Ravi said that in this new global drive, partnering with Africa was ..

India works to bridge language divide at G20 summit over Ukraine war

Its diplomats have the difficult task to arrive at a joint communique for G20 leaders' summit in Delhi in Sept

India at UN urges immediate return to dialogue, diplomacy in Ukraine war

The permanent representative further added, We have consistently advocated that no solution can ever be arrived at the cost of human lives

PM's US, Egypt visit important milestone in diplomacy: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to the US and Egypt an important milestone in India's diplomacy, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said the grand welcome that he received in the two countries was a recognition of his efforts to take the country to a greater height in geopolitics. The US, which is an economic superpower and has a distinct identity in the world order, accepted India as an equal partner and entered into agreements under which the two countries will work together, Vaishnaw told a press conference at the BJP headquarters here . That is a major and a very big achievement, he added. Prime Minister Modi returned to India on Sunday night after his six-day state visits to the US and Egypt. Modi's US visit was marked by several major deals to boost cooperation in key areas such as defence, space, technology and trade. In Egypt, the prime minister held talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic ...

Intel, Micron plans to spend billions on new chip plants outside US

Washington is seeking to strengthen key supply chains outside of China as it works to contain Beijing's geopolitical ambitions

Australian PM stresses need for diplomacy, guardrails in dealing with China

As tensions grow between the United States and China in the Asia-Pacific, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a gathering of top defense officials on Friday that open channels of communication are critical for preserving peace, while also advocating effective deterrence. Albanese, who has been expanding Australia's military power in response to China's growing military assertiveness in the South China Sea, the South Pacific and the East China Sea, said he has also been working to stabilise the country's diplomatic relations with China. We recognise there are fundamental differences in our two nations' systems of government, our values and our world views, he said in his keynote address to the annual Shangri-La dialogue. But we begin from the principle that whatever the issue, whether we agree or disagree, it is always better and it is always more effective if we deal direct. Both US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and China's new defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, wer