Tag: Xi Jinping

  • China's 'Two Sessions' Begin Amid Economic Challenges And Political Shifts, Here's What To Expect | world news

    BEIJING: China's prestigious “Two Sessions” commences in Beijing on Monday where thousands of delegates from across the country will signal how they plan to steer the world's second-largest economy in the year ahead and try to dispel deepening concern about the challenges it faces. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his top Communist Party officials are expected to focus on projecting confidence during the “two sessions,” a highly choreographed event where China's rubber-stamp legislature and top advisory body convene.

    The largely ceremonial political gathering is taking on heightened importance this year as China's economy has been roiled by a property sector crisis, hefty local government debt, deflation, a stock market rout and tech friction with the US — all fueling questions about whether the country will lose steam before it reaches its goal of becoming a developed global power.

    Economic Focus And Premier's Projections

    Xi faces scrutiny amid economic difficulties and rising skepticism. The past year saw him embark on an unprecedented third term, marked by economic struggles, job uncertainties, market losses, and small business challenges. Premier Li Qiang's report will unveil a 5% economic growth target for 2024 and address pressing issues from declining birth rates to tech regulation.

    Global Impact And Political Implications

    China's economic troubles reverberate globally, especially in a year where the US presidential election may strain Sino-American relations further. Leaders aim to showcase the government's ability to handle economic issues and provide confidence in China's economic trajectory.

    The “Two Sessions” serve as a platform for the government to announce strategies and key indicators, including economic growth targets and military spending. However, the space for open exchanges has diminished as Xi tightened control, raising questions about the direction of China's economic and social policies.

    Economic Debate Restrictions And Leadership Challenges

    Recent controls on economic debates, including social media restrictions on analysts, highlight the government's efforts to control narratives. Xi's political shakeup and challenges faced by the new administration raise questions about the future direction of China and its impact on the global economy.

    Crucial Topics And Global Relations

    The sessions will shed light on China's stance on Taiwan, relations with the US, and efforts to bolster innovation amid tech export controls. Observers anticipate a possible shift in tone towards a more conciliatory stance, temporarily easing the confrontational 'wolf warrior diplomacy.'

    Leadership Appointments And Foreign Minister's Role

    The unexpected removal of officials, including the foreign minister and defense minister, adds an element of uncertainty. A new foreign minister's appointment and potential high-ranking cabinet posts fillings will be closely monitored, as they signal shifts in China's leadership and foreign policy.

    NPC Dynamics: Ousting And Appointments

    The NPC's Standing Committee witnessed the removal of 11 members, including key figures linked to China's military apparatus. The departures, particularly of Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Defense Minister Li Shangfu, prompt questions about military dynamics and leadership judgment.

    Deciphering NPC And CPPCC Roles

    Although technically independent from the CCP, both the NPC and CPPCC are significantly influenced by it. While the NPC is China's primary legislative body, the CPPCC operates as a political advisory entity, fostering collaboration and extending CCP influence.

    NPC's Significance Beyond Formality

    Despite being colloquially labeled a “rubber stamp,” the NPC holds importance beyond formality. Limited public input and occasional displays of dissent showcase its role in representing citizen interests on less sensitive issues.

    Influence of Non-Party Actors And Global Market Skepticism

    China's political landscape accommodates diverse interest groups, including advocates for women's rights and environmentalists. Their influence, however, remains constrained by the CCP's dominance. Market skepticism prevails as observers await the impact of confidence projections and measures announced during the “Two Sessions.”

  • Who sought Modi, Xi meet? Both sides differ

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India on Friday countered China’s claim that the conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Johannesburg took place at New Delhi’s request.

    “There was a pending request from the Chinese side for a bilateral meeting. The two leaders, however, had an informal conversation in the leaders’ lounge during the BRICS Summit,’’ said a source.

    The Indian version came after the Chinese foreign ministry issued a readout of the conversation, stating they met on India’s request, adding the talks were in-depth and candid.

    “President Xi Jinping spoke with PM Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at India’s request. An in-depth exchange of views on current China-India relations and other questions of shared interest took place. President Xi stressed that improving China-India relations serves the common interest of the two countries and peoples and is conducive to peace, stability and development of the world and the region,’’ stated the Chinese statement.

    “The two sides should bear in mind the overall interests of their bilateral relations and handle properly the border issue so as to jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border region,’’ the statement noted.

    On Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra had said, “On the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Modi in a conversation with President Xi Jinping, highlighted his concerns on the unresolved issues on the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border.”

    “PM Modi underlined that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the Indo-China relationship. In this regard the two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation,” Kwatara said.

    Prime Minister Modi and President Xi held the conversation on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Johannesburg. The conversation was not a structured bilateral meeting and was an informal one. The two leaders were also seen shaking hands and exchanging courtesies after the joint conference of the BRICS leaders.

    NEW DELHI: India on Friday countered China’s claim that the conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Johannesburg took place at New Delhi’s request.

    “There was a pending request from the Chinese side for a bilateral meeting. The two leaders, however, had an informal conversation in the leaders’ lounge during the BRICS Summit,’’ said a source.

    The Indian version came after the Chinese foreign ministry issued a readout of the conversation, stating they met on India’s request, adding the talks were in-depth and candid.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “President Xi Jinping spoke with PM Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at India’s request. An in-depth exchange of views on current China-India relations and other questions of shared interest took place. President Xi stressed that improving China-India relations serves the common interest of the two countries and peoples and is conducive to peace, stability and development of the world and the region,’’ stated the Chinese statement.

    “The two sides should bear in mind the overall interests of their bilateral relations and handle properly the border issue so as to jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border region,’’ the statement noted.

    On Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra had said, “On the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Modi in a conversation with President Xi Jinping, highlighted his concerns on the unresolved issues on the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border.”

    “PM Modi underlined that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the Indo-China relationship. In this regard the two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation,” Kwatara said.

    Prime Minister Modi and President Xi held the conversation on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Johannesburg. The conversation was not a structured bilateral meeting and was an informal one. The two leaders were also seen shaking hands and exchanging courtesies after the joint conference of the BRICS leaders.

  • At BRICS, PM Modi, Chinese President agree on ‘expeditious de-escalation’ in Ladakh

    By ANI

    JOHANNESBURG: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in which he highlighted India’s concerns at the unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh with the two leaders agreeing to direct their relevant officials “to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation”.

    Addressing a press conference on India’s participation at the 15th BRICS summit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said Prime Minister Modi had interactions with other BRICS leaders during the summit.

    He said PM Modi in his conversation with the Chinese President underlined that the maintenance of peace in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China ties.

    “Prime Minister had interactions with other BRICS leaders. In a conversation with President Xi Jinping of  China, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s concerns on the unresolved issues along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China border areas. Prime Minister underlined that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China relationship,” Kwatra said.

    “In this regard, the two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation,” he added. 

    India and China held the 19th round of Corps Commander Level talks earlier this month at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point on the Indian side.

    Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement that the two sides had a positive, constructive and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector.

    ALSO READ | India treads cautiously on BRICS affairs

    “In line with the guidance provided by the leadership, they exchanged views in an open and forward-looking manner. They agreed to resolve the remaining issues in an expeditious manner and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through military and diplomatic channels. In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas,” the statement said.

    There has been disengagement from some friction points along LAC in eastern Ladakh following a stand-off between India and China in April 2020 due to the actions of the Chinese army.  

    JOHANNESBURG: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in which he highlighted India’s concerns at the unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh with the two leaders agreeing to direct their relevant officials “to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation”.

    Addressing a press conference on India’s participation at the 15th BRICS summit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said Prime Minister Modi had interactions with other BRICS leaders during the summit.

    He said PM Modi in his conversation with the Chinese President underlined that the maintenance of peace in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China ties.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Prime Minister had interactions with other BRICS leaders. In a conversation with President Xi Jinping of  China, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s concerns on the unresolved issues along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China border areas. Prime Minister underlined that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China relationship,” Kwatra said.

    “In this regard, the two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation,” he added. 

    India and China held the 19th round of Corps Commander Level talks earlier this month at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point on the Indian side.

    Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement that the two sides had a positive, constructive and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector.

    ALSO READ | India treads cautiously on BRICS affairs

    “In line with the guidance provided by the leadership, they exchanged views in an open and forward-looking manner. They agreed to resolve the remaining issues in an expeditious manner and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through military and diplomatic channels. In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas,” the statement said.

    There has been disengagement from some friction points along LAC in eastern Ladakh following a stand-off between India and China in April 2020 due to the actions of the Chinese army.  

  • SCO should create trusted supply chains; members should give each other transit rights: PM Modi

    By PTI

    SAMARKAND: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to create trusted and resilient supply chains to offset the disruptions caused by the Ukraine crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic and said the members of the grouping should give each other full transit rights to expand connectivity.

    With Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif listening, Modi, addressing the annual summit of the bloc, said India supports “greater cooperation and mutual trust” among the SCO member states even as he pitched for concerted efforts to combat terrorism.

    Modi’s emphasis on full transit rights comes amid Pakistan’s reluctance to provide such a facility to India for trade with other countries such as Afghanistan.

    Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the SCO agreed to work towards developing a unified list of terrorist, separatist and extremist organisations whose activities are prohibited on the territories of the member states.

    It is for the first time Modi and Xi came face-to-face since the start of the border standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh around 28 months back.

    In his remarks, Modi said the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis have caused many disruptions in global supply chains, leaving the world facing “unprecedented” energy and food crises.

    At a late evening media briefing, Kwatra said Modi shared India’s perspective on regional and international situations including in Afghanistan and emphasised on the centrality of the aspirations of the central asian nations in the SCO.

    The prime minister also called for greater cooperation to fight terrorism in the region including under the framework of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO (RATS SCO).

    He said Modi strongly put across India’s position on Afghanistan which essentially focused on the human-centric nature of assistance and that New Delhi favours an inclusive government in Kabul.

    The prime minister also mentioned the Chabahar port project as well as the International North-South Transport Corridor while highlighting the need for boosting regional connectivity, Kwatra said.

    In his address, Modi said the SCO, with almost 30 per cent of the global GDP and 40 per cent of the world’s population, has an important role to play in global economic recovery.

    Highlighting India’s growth trajectory, the prime minister also said that the Indian economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s largest economies.

    “India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members. The pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine have caused many disruptions in global supply chains, leaving the world facing unprecedented energy and food crises,” he said.

    “The SCO should strive to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region. For this, better connectivity will be required, as well as it will also be important that we all give full rights of transit to each other,” he said.

    At the summit, Uzbekistan handed over the rotating presidency of the eight-member SCO to India. In his address, Chinese President Xi conveyed China’s congratulations to India on assuming the SCO presidency.

    “We will, together with other member states, support India during its presidency,” he said.

    Referring to food security crisis across the globe, the prime minister pitched for the promotion of the cultivation and consumption of millets.

    “The world today faces another major challenge, and that is ensuring the food security of our citizens. One possible solution to this problem is to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets,” he said.

    ALSO READ: We want to transform India into a manufacturing hub, says PM Modi at SCO Summit

    “Millets is a superfood that has been grown for thousands of years, not only in SCO countries, but in many parts of the world, and is a traditional, nutritious and low-cost alternative to the food crisis,” Modi said.

    The prime minister said the SCO should consider organising a ‘Millet Food Festival’.

    Talking about economic cooperation, the prime minister said the role of the SCO has become very important when the whole world is facing the challenges of economic recovery after the pandemic.

    “We are making progress on making India a manufacturing hub. India’s young and talented workforce makes us naturally competitive. India’s economy is expected to grow at 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s major economies,” Modi said.

    The prime minister also talked about India’s focus on proper use of technology in its people-centric development model.

    “We are supporting innovation in every sector. Today there are over 70,000 start-ups in India, of which over 100 are unicorns. This experience of ours can be of use to many other SCO members as well,” the prime minister said.

    “For this purpose, we are ready to share our experience with the member countries of SCO by establishing a new Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation,” he added.

    The prime minister said India today is one of the most affordable destinations for medical and wellness tourism in the world.

    “The WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine was inaugurated in Gujarat in April 2022. This will be the WHO’s first and only Global Center for Traditional Medicine,” Modi said.

    “We should increase cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries. For this, India will take initiative on a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine,” he said.

    Following the summit, the leaders signed the Samarkand Declaration and adopted a package of documents.

    The SCO Heads of State Council adopted statements for cooperation in areas of climate change, reliable, sustainable and diversified supply chains, and on ensuring global food security and international energy security.

    The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

    SAMARKAND: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to create trusted and resilient supply chains to offset the disruptions caused by the Ukraine crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic and said the members of the grouping should give each other full transit rights to expand connectivity.

    With Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif listening, Modi, addressing the annual summit of the bloc, said India supports “greater cooperation and mutual trust” among the SCO member states even as he pitched for concerted efforts to combat terrorism.

    Modi’s emphasis on full transit rights comes amid Pakistan’s reluctance to provide such a facility to India for trade with other countries such as Afghanistan.

    Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the SCO agreed to work towards developing a unified list of terrorist, separatist and extremist organisations whose activities are prohibited on the territories of the member states.

    It is for the first time Modi and Xi came face-to-face since the start of the border standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh around 28 months back.

    In his remarks, Modi said the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis have caused many disruptions in global supply chains, leaving the world facing “unprecedented” energy and food crises.

    At a late evening media briefing, Kwatra said Modi shared India’s perspective on regional and international situations including in Afghanistan and emphasised on the centrality of the aspirations of the central asian nations in the SCO.

    The prime minister also called for greater cooperation to fight terrorism in the region including under the framework of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO (RATS SCO).

    He said Modi strongly put across India’s position on Afghanistan which essentially focused on the human-centric nature of assistance and that New Delhi favours an inclusive government in Kabul.

    The prime minister also mentioned the Chabahar port project as well as the International North-South Transport Corridor while highlighting the need for boosting regional connectivity, Kwatra said.

    In his address, Modi said the SCO, with almost 30 per cent of the global GDP and 40 per cent of the world’s population, has an important role to play in global economic recovery.

    Highlighting India’s growth trajectory, the prime minister also said that the Indian economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s largest economies.

    “India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members. The pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine have caused many disruptions in global supply chains, leaving the world facing unprecedented energy and food crises,” he said.

    “The SCO should strive to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region. For this, better connectivity will be required, as well as it will also be important that we all give full rights of transit to each other,” he said.

    At the summit, Uzbekistan handed over the rotating presidency of the eight-member SCO to India. In his address, Chinese President Xi conveyed China’s congratulations to India on assuming the SCO presidency.

    “We will, together with other member states, support India during its presidency,” he said.

    Referring to food security crisis across the globe, the prime minister pitched for the promotion of the cultivation and consumption of millets.

    “The world today faces another major challenge, and that is ensuring the food security of our citizens. One possible solution to this problem is to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets,” he said.

    ALSO READ: We want to transform India into a manufacturing hub, says PM Modi at SCO Summit

    “Millets is a superfood that has been grown for thousands of years, not only in SCO countries, but in many parts of the world, and is a traditional, nutritious and low-cost alternative to the food crisis,” Modi said.

    The prime minister said the SCO should consider organising a ‘Millet Food Festival’.

    Talking about economic cooperation, the prime minister said the role of the SCO has become very important when the whole world is facing the challenges of economic recovery after the pandemic.

    “We are making progress on making India a manufacturing hub. India’s young and talented workforce makes us naturally competitive. India’s economy is expected to grow at 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s major economies,” Modi said.

    The prime minister also talked about India’s focus on proper use of technology in its people-centric development model.

    “We are supporting innovation in every sector. Today there are over 70,000 start-ups in India, of which over 100 are unicorns. This experience of ours can be of use to many other SCO members as well,” the prime minister said.

    “For this purpose, we are ready to share our experience with the member countries of SCO by establishing a new Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation,” he added.

    The prime minister said India today is one of the most affordable destinations for medical and wellness tourism in the world.

    “The WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine was inaugurated in Gujarat in April 2022. This will be the WHO’s first and only Global Center for Traditional Medicine,” Modi said.

    “We should increase cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries. For this, India will take initiative on a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine,” he said.

    Following the summit, the leaders signed the Samarkand Declaration and adopted a package of documents.

    The SCO Heads of State Council adopted statements for cooperation in areas of climate change, reliable, sustainable and diversified supply chains, and on ensuring global food security and international energy security.

    The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

  • Modi to attend regional summit with Russia, China, Pakistan

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India said Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in a regional summit in Uzbekistan that according to Russia will see face-to-face talks between Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    The gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) comprising China, Russia, four Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — India and Pakistan is due to take place in Samarkand on September 15 and 16.

    On Wednesday Russia’s ambassador to China said that Putin and Xi would meet at the summit, in what will be the Chinese leader’s first trip abroad since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Beijing’s foreign ministry did not immediately confirm the meeting, with a spokesperson saying at a regular press briefing that “there is no information to provide” on the matter.

    The Indian government statement on Sunday did not say whether Modi would hold bilateral talks with Putin, Xi or — for the first time since he became Pakistani prime minister in April — Shehbaz Sharif.

    Sourcing most of its arms from Russia, India like China has refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and has ramped up purchases of Russian oil.

    India’s relations with China have been frosty since fighting in 2020 on their disputed Himalayan border left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. Modi and Xi have not held bilateral talks since 2019.

    India is also part of the so-called Quad together with the United States, Japan and Australia, a grouping seen as a bulwark against China.

    NEW DELHI: India said Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in a regional summit in Uzbekistan that according to Russia will see face-to-face talks between Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    The gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) comprising China, Russia, four Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — India and Pakistan is due to take place in Samarkand on September 15 and 16.

    On Wednesday Russia’s ambassador to China said that Putin and Xi would meet at the summit, in what will be the Chinese leader’s first trip abroad since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Beijing’s foreign ministry did not immediately confirm the meeting, with a spokesperson saying at a regular press briefing that “there is no information to provide” on the matter.

    The Indian government statement on Sunday did not say whether Modi would hold bilateral talks with Putin, Xi or — for the first time since he became Pakistani prime minister in April — Shehbaz Sharif.

    Sourcing most of its arms from Russia, India like China has refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and has ramped up purchases of Russian oil.

    India’s relations with China have been frosty since fighting in 2020 on their disputed Himalayan border left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. Modi and Xi have not held bilateral talks since 2019.

    India is also part of the so-called Quad together with the United States, Japan and Australia, a grouping seen as a bulwark against China.

  • India to attend China-hosted BRICS Summit virtually in June-end

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: After attending the BRICS Sherpas meeting virtually last week, India will attend the BRICS Summit, to be hosted by China virtually. It is likely to be held towards the end of June. The Summit will be attended by PM Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the heads of state of Brazil and South Africa.

    Although India-China’s standoff – over issues concerning the Line of Actual Control – remains a prickly matter, the Summit will be an important one diplomatically, according to experts. Prior to it, India will also attend an in-person Quad Summit on May 24 in Tokyo.

    Both Quad and BRICS are diametrically opposite groupings. In Quad the US has positioned itself against China and wants to focus on Indo-Pacific and has also managed to rally support against Russia by the other members (Australia, Japan) barring India. India has maintained that it wants a peaceful resolution to the conflict. 

    BRICS on the other hand has Russia and China at centre-stage and is seen as a grouping which is against the US. With sanctions imposed on Russia and China being continuously criticised by the US, India will be at odds here too. The issue gets compounded as India and China have not had very cordial relations since the Galwan conflict.

    In both the groupings India has so far maintained its own position – which is of neutrality. Close on the heels of the BRICS Summit is the G7 Summit, which is scheduled to take place between June 26th and 28th.

    India has yet to receive a formal invite for this, though since the past three G7 meetings it has always been invited. It is a tightrope for India when it comes to diplomacy, however, it has managed well so far having its way without antagonising any grouping.

    Meanwhile, during the BRICS Sherpa meet (April 13), discussions were held on various matters, said the Ministry of External Affairs. Those who attended the meeting agreed to further strengthen solidarity and cooperation to address multiple challenges faced globally, including the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery.

    The meeting was chaired by Ma Zhaoxu, Sherpa for BRICS affairs and vice-foreign minister of China. It was attended by Sherpas of India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa.

  • WEF’s online Davos summit to begin Sunday; Modi, Jinping among listed speakers over six days

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI/DAVOS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese premier Xi Jinping will be among the top world leaders who will participate in the six-day online Davos Agenda Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF), beginning on Sunday.

    In what could be the first major global summit of the year, the event will see more than 1,000 global leaders, including heads of state and government, CEOs and chairmen of big companies, heads of multilateral organisations as also members of academia and civil society, discuss economic, environmental, social and technological challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The WEF said there would be 15 special addresses from G20 heads of state and government and international organisations during the summit from January 24-29.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his address on Thursday.

    Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as also business leaders such as Anand Mahindra, Salil Parekh and Shobana Kamineni would be among other speakers from India.

    While the WEF will host its physical annual meeting in May in Singapore, as against the regular venue of the Swiss ski resort town of Davos, the Geneva-based organisation is hosting this online event, named ‘Davos Agenda’ around the same time it generally hosts its yearly congregation of the rich and powerful of the world.

    The event has been billed as a platform that will see top world leaders deliver special addresses and engage in dialogue with business leaders at the start of a “crucial year to rebuild trust”.

    The opening ceremony on Sunday evening will begin with a welcome address by WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab, followed by a special address by Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin, presentation of the annual Crystal Awards and the world premiere of “See Me: A Global Concert.”

    The concert will be presented as a shared expression of trust, connection and hope and it features orchestras and choirs in Beijing, Drakensberg, Florence, Kabul, Philadelphia, Vienna and Sao Paulo, with the cellist Yo-Yo Ma and music director Marin Alsop.

    The concert was filmed on location despite the COVID-19 challenges.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a special address on Monday, while the day will also see several sessions including on the COVID-19 crisis, restoring economic growth and stakeholder capitalism.

    United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also address a session.

    On Tuesday, the speakers would include South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, as also IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva.

    Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in, Italy Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are among the listed speakers for Wednesday.

    On Thursday, in addition to Modi, Jordan King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and Argentina President Alberto Fernandez will also deliver their special addresses.

    Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will speak on Friday, the last day of the summit.

    On Monday, Schwab will also release his latest book, titled ‘Stakeholder Capitalism: A Global Economy that Works for Progress, People and Planet.’

    It explores how societies can build the future post-COVID and builds on the WEF’s 50-year-old advocacy of the stakeholder approach.

     Other major speakers would include Christine Lagarde, and Bill Gates, Punit Renjen of Deloitte, Brian T Moynihan of Bank of America, Al Gore, Ishaan Tharoor, Mark Carney, Angel Gurria of OECD, Ajay Banga, K T Rama Rao, Masayoshi Son of Softbank and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of WHO.

    The list of registered participants also includes union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani and Piyush Goyal, along with top business leaders such as Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Ravi Ruia, Rishad Premji, Pawan Munjal, Rajan Mittal, Sunil Mittal, Ajay Khanna, Ajit Gulabchand, Hari S Bhartia and Sanjiv Bajaj.

    Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, Tata Steel CEO T Narendran and Walmart CEO Doug McMillon are also among registered participants.

    The WEF’s Davos 2020 summit was the last major global event that took place before almost the entire world got locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The ‘Davos Agenda’ will also mark the launch of WEF’s “Great Reset Initiative” and begin the preparation of the special Annual Meeting in the spring, said the Geneva-based entity, which describes itself as an international organisation for public-private cooperation.

    Industry leaders and public figures will discuss how to advance and accelerate public-private collaboration on critical issues such as COVID-19 vaccination, job creation and climate change, among others, according to the WEF.

    While the WEF annual meeting for 2021 will be held during May 13-16 in Singapore, the high-profile summit will return to Davos in 2022.

    The conclusions from the Davos Agenda week will feed into task forces working on global issues for the upcoming Special Annual Meeting in Singapore, the WEF said.

  • PM Modi, Xi Jinping among world leaders to participate in virtual Davos summit

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI/GENEVA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese premier Xi Jinping will be among the top world leaders who will participate in a five-day online Davos Agenda Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF) later this month.

    Several union ministers including Narendra Singh Tomar, Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan along with top business leaders such as Mukesh Ambani and Anand Mahindra will also participate in the event.

    While the WEF will host its physical annual meeting in May in Singapore, as against the regular venue of Swiss ski resort town of Davos, the Geneva-based organisation is hosting an online event, named ‘Davos Agenda’ around the same time it generally hosts its yearly congregation of the rich and powerful of the world.

    The online Davos Agenda Summit from January 25-29 will see several heads of state and government deliver special addresses and engage in dialogue with business leaders at the start of a “crucial year to rebuild trust”.

    In a statement, the WEF said the heads of state/ government who have confirmed their participation include Xi, Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, South Korea President Moon Jae-in, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, the host of the World Economic Forum Special Annual Meeting 2021.

    The WEF’s Davos 2020 summit was the last major global event that took place before almost the entire world got locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The ‘Davos Agenda’ will also mark the launch of WEF’s “Great Reset Initiative” and begin the preparation of the special Annual Meeting in the spring, said the Geneva-based entity, which describes itself as an international organisation for public-private cooperation.

    Heads of state and of government and international organisations will give special addresses on the state of the world, besides engaging in dialogue with business leaders.

    Industry leaders and public figures will discuss how to advance and accelerate public-private collaboration on critical issues such as COVID-19 vaccination, job creation and climate change, among others, according to the WEF.

    Those who have already registered for the event also include former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and ex-IMF chief Christine Lagarde.

    From India, the registered participants from the business community are Mukesh Ambani, Sanjiv Bajaj, Shyam Sunder Bhartia, Hari S Bhartia, Ajay Khanna, Jayadev Galla, Dipali Goenka, Ajit Gulabchand, Shobana Kamineni, Hemant Kanoria, Neeraj Kanwar, Onkar S Kanwar, Vikram Khemka, Grandhi Kiran Kumar, S P Lohia, Anand Mahindra, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Rajan Bharti Mittal, Pawan Munjal, Salil S Parekh, Jai Shroff, Sumant Sinha and Vaishali Sinha.

    The ministers registered for the event so far are Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Smriti Zubin Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan and Narendra Singh Tomar.

    While the WEF annual meeting for 2021 will be held during May 13-16 in Singapore, the high-profile summit will return to Davos in 2022.

    The WEF said the Davos Agenda 2021 will convene under the theme ‘A Crucial Year to Rebuild Trust’.

    More than 1,500 business, government and civil society leaders from over 70 countries will set the agenda for a critical year ahead and discuss how to catalyse impact in the rapidly advancing Fourth Industrial Revolution, it added.

    The conclusions from the Davos Agenda week will feed into task forces working on global issues for the upcoming Special Annual Meeting in Singapore, the WEF said.

    “In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to reset priorities and the urgency to reform systems have been growing stronger around the world,” said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of WEF.

    “Rebuilding trust and increasing global cooperation are crucial to fostering innovative and bold solutions to stem the pandemic and drive a robust recovery.

    This unique meeting will be an opportunity for leaders to outline their vision and address the most important issues of our time, such as the need to accelerate job creation and to protect the environment,” he added.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that no institution or individual alone can address the economic, environmental, social and technological challenges of our complex, interdependent world.

    The pandemic has accelerated systemic changes that were apparent before its inception.

    The fault lines that emerged in 2020 now appear as critical crossroads in 2021.

    The Davos Agenda will help leaders choose innovative and bold solutions to stem the pandemic and drive a robust recovery over the next year, it added.

    Special addresses from G20 heads of state and government and international organisations will provide crucial insights into a range of important issues in the year ahead, the WEF said.

    The private sector will be represented by more than 1,000 leaders from the Forum’s member and partner organisations.

  • Xi Jinping Appoints New General For PLA’s Western Theatre Command Amid Ladakh Standoff

    Amidst the military standoff in eastern Ladakh, China has appointed a new General as the Commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s Western Theatre Command which oversees the China-India border. 

    Chinese President Xi Jinping, who heads the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high-command of the two million-strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA), appointed Gen. Zhang Xudong as the Commander of the Western Theatre Command, according to the official media in Beijing

    According to Xinhua news agency, Xi has promoted four senior Chinese military and armed police officers. Among them was Gen. Zhang, Commander of the Western Theatre Command of the PLA. The other officers who were promoted include Guo Puxiao, Political Commissar of the Logistic Support Department of the CMC; Li Wei, Political Commissar of the PLA Strategic Support Force and Wang Chunning, Commander.

  • India Cancels All 70 Events Planned To Mark 70th Year Of China Ties

    Days after China “cancelled” plans to jointly launch commemorative stamps with India to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, India has cancelled all 70 such diplomatic events planned with its Eastern neighbour. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has now decided to ramp up cultural relations with Taiwan, a bitter rival of China. 

    A number of events were planned on the 70th diplomatic anniversary of China and India’s relationship after Xi Jinping and PM Modi had met last year in Chennai but post-Galwan Valley clash, India has decided to cancel these events, Dinesh K Patnaik, DG ICCR told Republic Media Network. Many of these events were to be organised in China.

    China’s State Post Bureau has decided to cancel its plan to jointly launch commemorative stamps with India, state-run CGTN-TV reported on December 8, quoting a statement by the bureau without mentioning the date of the event. No reason was given for the decision, the report said.