December - 2013

INDIA AND CHINA

The Ministry of Power of the Government of India and the National Energy Administration of the Government of China on 23October 2013 signed the deal to further strengthen and deepen cooperation in the energy sector under the India- China Strategic Economic Dialogue.

The energy cooperation and the proposal for setting up Chinese Power Equipment Service Centres (PESCs) in India was discussed at the SED Working Group Meeting on Energy that took place in Beijing on 26 September 2013. India has become a strategic market for Chinese power equipment manufacturers and that 18 GW of thermal power projects were commissioned under India’s 11th Five Year plan using Chinese manufactured equipment and about 40GWofpowerprojects are currently under construction using Chinese made equipment.

Important Provisions of Cooperation Programme

1. The service centres would be adequately provided with equipment, personnel, spares  and other facilities so as to enable them to provide all requisite spars and services support with in India.

2. The PESCs will be set up in India on market principles. Thecosts and terms of servicing power equipment will be decided between the PESCs and the end user.

3. The companies will make themselves fully conversant with the relevant rules/ regulations/statutes/approvals and processes being applicable for setting up of such PESCs in India.

4. The PESCs would be directly responsible for provision of requisite services to the Indian power generating companies on mutually acceptable terms and conditions (between the PESCs and the Indian power generating companies) and in accordance with applicable Indian laws/rules/statutes and this MoU shall not in any-way confer any special or preferential status/treatment to the PESCs.

India and China Signed Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA)

India and China signed nine agreements/Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) including the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) on 23 October 2013.

The main objective of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement is to avoid border tensions and army face-offs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by deciding that neither side will use military capability to attack the other side nor tail patrols along the border.

The other agreements/ Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were Management of Trans- Border Rivers, MoU on Nalanda University, Cultural Exchange Programme 2013-15, MoU on Cooperation in Road Transport and Highways, MoU on Power Equipment Service Centres in India, Agreement between Delhi-Beijing on Establishment of Sister City Relationship, Agreement between Kolkata – Kunming on Establishment of Sister City Relationship.

Highlights of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA)

• India and China shall carry out border defense cooperation on the basis of their respective laws and relevant bilateral agreements.

• Both countries agreed to exchange of information including information about military exercises, aircrafts, demolition operations and unmarked mines-and take consequent measures conducive to the maintenance of peace, stability and tranquility along the line of actual control in the India-China border areas.

• Both countries agreed to work jointly to combat smuggling of arms,wild life, wildlife articles and other contrabands.

• Both countries agreed that they shall not follow or tail patrols ofthe other side in areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control in the India-China border areas.

• In case a doubtful situation arises with reference to any activity by either side in border areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control, either side has the right to seek a clarification from the other side. In such cases, the clarification shall be sought and replies to them shall be conveyed through any of the mechanisms established under this Agreement.

• Both countries agreed that if the border defense forces of the two sides come to a face to-face situation in are as where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control, both sides shall exercise maximum self restraint, refrain from any provocative actions, not use force or threaten to use force against the other side, treat each other with courtesy and prevent exchange of fire or armed conflict.

• Both countries shall implement this Agreement without prejudice to their respective positions on the alignment of the line of actual control as well as on the boundary question. India and China Signed 9 MoUs Including the Border Defense Cooperation Agreement India and China signed 9MoUs/ agreements including the Border Defense Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) to maintain peace and tranquility on the Line of Actual Control, on 23 October 2013 during the official visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to China.

INDIA AND PAKISTAN

All-India Association of Industries (AIAI) on 8 October 2013 announced that it entered into an agreement with the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in order topromote the trade between India and Pakistan. For this purpose, a memorandum of understanding was signed with a purpose of enhancing the trade and investments between the two nations. TheMoU also seeks to enhance the collaborations, joint ventures as well as technology transfers via an exchange of the business proposals. Apart from this, the MoU also aims to offer the mutual help in organisation of and participation in trade fairs and exhibitions. The MoU was signed between President of FCPPI Zubair Ahmed Malik and with senior AIAI officials. With this, the AIAI’s list of the agreements like this with the fellow lobbies increased to 205.

INDIA AND CUBA

India and Cuba on 30October 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and Cuban Radio and Television Institute (ICRT). The MoU was signed by India’s ambassador to Cuba Chinthapalli Rajasekhar and vice-president of the ICRT EmillioMoises Garcia Borroto.Under the agreement both countries will explore co-production opportunites on matters of mutual
interest

The pact would facilitate exchange programmes in fields of cultural entertainment, education, science, sports and news. It also opens up avenues for co-production of broadcast content for creative ventures including films andcoverage of events. The MoU was signed  during the official visit of India’s vice President Hamid Ansari to Cuba.

Vice-President of India, Hamid Ansari Visited Cuba

The Vice-president of India, Hamid Ansari on 30 October 2013 had a meeting with the revolutionary hero and the former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro. This was the first ever bilateral visit fromIndian side to
Cuba. During the meeting, India and Cuba signed an agreement on cooperation in broadcasting. It is important to note that India and Cuba are the founding members of Non Aligned Movement (NAM).

Agreement signed between India and Cuba

• The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on broadcasting between Prasar Bharti and Cuban Radio and Television Institute was signed on 30 October 2013.

• TheMoUwas signed by India’s ambassador to Cuba Chinthapalli Rajasekhar and vice-president of the institute EmillioMoises Garcia Borroto.

Major Highlights of the visit

• During the tour, Hamid Ansari did the tour of Peru and signed four agreements.

• In the meanwhile, he also inaugurated the Festival of India which started off with Nrityaroopa, a fusion of six classical dances.

• Delegation-level talks and discussions were held with the Cuban leaders.

• Hamid Ansari also visited the Biotechnology Centre in Cuba.

• He also visited the Revolution Plaza.

INDIA AND BANGLADESH

The extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh came into effect on 23 October 2013 with the handing over of the instruments of  ratification. The treaty came into effect after Bangladesh Home Secretary C.Q.K. Mostaq Ahmad and Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran signed the documents in Dhaka. The treaty was signed between two nations on 28 January 2013.With this treaty in place, India will now be able to extradite ULFA leader Anup Chetia from Bangladesh.

Under the treaty the two countries will be able to exchange convicts and under trials as required. The treaty provides for extradition of convicts sentenced to more than one year of imprisonment, but is not applicable to political prisoners and asylum seekers. Both countries can cancel the treaty at sixmonth’s notice. The treaty will allow India to extradite ULF Aleader Anup Chetia,while it will allow Bangladesh to take back fugitive criminals from India like Sazzad Hossain and put them to trial.

India-Bangladesh Inked Pact for Enhanced Trade Facilitation and Combating Tax Evasion

India and Bangladesh on 22 October 2013 inked an agreement for enhanced trade facilitation and for combating evasion of duties and taxes. The agrrement was signed during the India-Bangladesh Joint Group of Customs meet in Dhaka. The agreement was signed by India’s Revenue Secretary Sumit Bose and Md.Ghulam Hussain, Chairman of the Bangladesh National Board of Revenue. This was the ninth meeting under the Secretary-level Joint Group of Customs. The next meeting will take place in New Delhi in 2014.

About the Agreement

• Under the agreement, India and Bangladesh identified 16 Land Customs Stations of high bilateral trade for synchronisation of working hours and days, and extension of Car Pass System thereby allowing movement of trucks for unloading up to the point of Land Custom Station.

• India- Bangladesh also agreed to allow custom officials of both countries to cross the borders to each other’s land Custom Stations for coordination and resolving operational issues.

• Both countries also agreed to keep the Land customs Stations at Petrapole and Benapole and Agartala and Akhaura operational for 7 days a week from1st january, 2014.

• They also agreed to improve institutional linkages between theircustoms administrations at operational and policy levels to facilitate trade and protect revenues.

December - 2013

INDIA AND JAPAN

India and Japan signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 7 October 2013 to undertake a joint feasibility study of High Speed Railway system on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. The MOU was signed by Katsuo
MATSUMOTO, Director South Asia Division Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from the Japanese side and Girish Pillai, Adviser Infrastructure, Ministry of Railways from the Indian side.

Highlights of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

• The MoU provided that the India and Japanwill co-finance a joint feasibility study of Mumbai- Ahmedabad High Speed route.

• The main objective of the Joint study is to prepare a feasibility report of High Speed Railway system on the Mumbai- Ahmedabad route with speed of 300-350kmph.

• The study will do traffic forecasting, alignment surveys and undertake comparative Study of High Speed Railway Technology and System.

• A Joint Monitoring Committee shall be established comprising of the Ministry of Railways, Planning Commission, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of External Affairs for the Indian side and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industries (METI), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Embassy of Japan (EoJ) in India) and JICA for the Japanese side.

• The cost of the study will be shared 50:50 between India and Japan.

INDIA AND PHILIPPINES

The 2nd meeting of the India- Philippines joint commission on bilateral cooperation was held on 21 October 2013 in Manila. The meeting was co-chaired by the Albert F. Del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines and the Salman Khurshid, Minister of External Affairs of the of India. During the meeting they discussed on political, defense, security, economic and cultural cooperation, and reviewed the progress of the Joint Working Groups on Trade and Investment, Tourism, Agriculture, Health and Medicine, Joint Committee on Renewable Energy and of the Joint Defense Cooperation Committee.

Highlights of the 2nd India- Philippines Joint Commission meeting

• The Ministers affirmed their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterated their commitment to expand and deepen cooperation in counter terrorism. In this regard, they agreed to convene the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism in NewDelhi in 2014 to discuss all issues related to terrorism and other transnational crimes.

• India and Philippines agreed to commence negotiations on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters (MLAT) in December 2013 and consider a Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement (TSP).

• The Ministers welcomed the convening of the 2ndmeeting of the India-Philippines Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC) in November 2013 in New Delhi.

• They also committed to increase exchanges in military training and education.

• The Ministers agreed to step up cooperation in combating nontraditional threats through exchange of experiences and capacity building in the areas of disaster management, food security and pandemics.

• The Philippines side welcomed the cash support of  100000US Dollar provided bythe Indian Government for disaster relief following the recent devastating earthquake in the Philippines.

• The Ministers committed to increase bilateral trade and investments between India and Philippines and to fully maximize the potential of the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment to bring their bilateral trade to an even higher level.

• They welcomed the results of the 2nd Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Tourism and agreed to review the 1949 Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

• The Ministers agreed to convene the 2nd Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Agriculture and the 2nd Meeting of the Joint Working Group in Health and Medicine as soon as possible.

• They also agreed that the 1987 Agreement for Cooperation in Science and Technology must be tapped and implemented through a Program of Cooperation.

• They also agreed to discuss a new Executive Program on Cultural Exchange for the years 2014 to 2016.

• The Ministers agreed that the 3rd Meeting of the Joint Commission will be held in 2015 in New Delhi.

INDIA AND TURKEY

India and Turkey on 7 October 2013agreed to resolve terrorism. Both also agreed to evolve a wider dialoguemechanism to discuss issues of common interest including defence cooperation. Many such aspects of Indo-
Turkish relationship were discussed between President Pranab Mukherji and Abdullah Gul, his Turkish counterpart and the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara during former’s visit to Turkey. During this visit, India conveyed to Turkey India’s concern on terrorism with reference to recent activities of cross border terrorism. There is a 200 strong Indian diaspora in Turkey. The people-to-people link is a great asset in the building of closer bilateral relations between India and Turkey.

INDIA AND PERU

India and Peru signed 4 documents/Mous on during the official visit of the Vice President of India, Mohammad Hamid Ansari to Peru on 29 October 2013. The Vice President of India visited Peru to celebrate the 50th year of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The Vice President of India held detailed discussions with the President of the Republic of Peru, Ollanta Humala Tasso and the first Vice President of
Peru, Marisol Espinoza and the Minister of ForeignAffairsof Peru,Ms. Eda Rivas Franchini. India and Peru signed documents in the field of education, defence cooperation, in the fields of Museum Development, Conversation of Movable Cultural Property and Dissemination and Promotion of Cultural Heritage.

INDIA AND RUSSIA

The 14th India-Russia Annual Summit was held at Moscow on 21 October 2013. The summit was cochaired by the PrimeMinister of the India Dr. Manmohan Singh and the President of the Russia Vladimir V. Putin. During the meeting they discussed priority areas of bilateral cooperation and noted common positions oncurrent international and regional issues. Both sides stressed their continued commitment to promote and strengthen in every possible way their special and privileged strategic partnership. During the 14th India-Russia Annual Summit, India and Russia signed bilateral Documents on transfer of Sentenced Persons, in the Field of Energy Efficiency, in the field of Standardization and Conformity Assessment between Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Federal Agency on Technical Regulation and Metrology, in the Fields of Science and in the area of Biotechnology.

External Affai rs Minister Announced That India and Russia Will Expand Civil Nuclear Cooperation The External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on 6 October 2013 announced in Moscow that India and Russia will strengthen cooperation in civil nuclear energy and reach commercial agreements for the third and fourth reactors of Kudankulam atomic power plant in Tamil Nadu. Salman Khurshid explained that the first reactor of Kudankulam plant will start producing electricity soon and go up to the level of generating 1000 megawatts of power. The second unit will go critical by April 2014. It is important to note that Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited is setting up two 1000 MW reactors at KudankulaminTamil Nadu with the help of Russia. The announcement was made in Mosco won the occasion of Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on economic,  scientific and cultural cooperation ahead of the annual bilateral summit in Mosco win the last week of October 2013.

INDIA AND HUNGARY

India and Hungary signed the bilateral agreement for the promotion and development of traditional systems of medicine on 17October 2013. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on behalf of India by Santosh Chowdhary, UnionMinister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Zolton Banog, Minister of National Resources of Hungary in the presence of Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India and Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, at Hyderabad House.

Highlights of the MoU

• Themain objective of thisMoU is to strengthen, promote and develop cooperation in the field of traditional systems of medicine between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.

• The MoU encourages and promotes cooperation to enhance the use of traditional systems of medicine, exchange of regulatory information on operational licensing to practice traditional medicine.

• It also encourages marketing authorization of medicines in both countries; promote the exchange of experts for training of practitioners, paramedics, scientists, teaching professionals and students in traditional systems of medicine.

• The signing of MoU will give boost to bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of traditional medicines which will open new vistas for exploring the potential of economic, commercial and tourism
  development in both the countries.

• With the help of this MoU, India will be able to establish the Indian systems of medicines namely Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga and Naturopathy, Siddha, Homeophathy and Sowa-Rigpa (Namchi) that will help in establishing the global recognition of India’s well established systems in the world over.

It is important to note that India has already signed the agreements like these with other countries such as Malaysia and Trininad and Tobago and is in the process of signing agreements with Russia, Nepal, Srilanka, Serbia and Mexico.

December - 2013

INDIA AND INDONESIA

Government of India and Indonesia on 11 October 2013 signed six Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in Jakarta in various fields to strengthen the cooperation between the two nations. The MoUs were inked in the
presence of Prime minister Manmohan singh and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Istan Merdeka (presidential secretariat) in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. These MoUs were signed during the first bilateral visit of Prime minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh to Indonesia from 10 to 12 October2013.

The agreements are in the fields of

1. Health and family welfare.

2. Cooperation on Combating Corruption.

3. Combating Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics, Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors.

4. Cooperation in the field of Disaster Management.

5. Training administrators and

6. Promoting friendly, cooperative and collaborative institutional relations.

INDIA AND SWEDEN

Harald Sandberg, the Swedish Ambassador on 25 October 2013 inaugurated the Nobel Memorial Wall in Kolkata. The Nobel Memorial Wall has been set up at the Esplanade Metro Station in Kolkata. Seven of the
Nobel Laureates from India are portrayed in the metro station along with the Rabindranath Tagore. The Memorial Wall was inaugurated of centenary when Tagore received the Nobel Prize for Literature. The portraits on the Memorial Wall also carry the information related to the life and achievements in the respective field of the Nobel Laureates with the year when they were awarded the Nobel in three languages, namely English, Hindi and Bangla. Two more memorial walls would be established at metro stations of Gitanjali and Jorasanko. The work on the Nobel Memorial Wall was done as the part of the seventh edition of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial wee.

INDIA AND BRAZIL

The Sixth India- Brazil Joint Commission Meeting was held in Brasilia on 14 -15October 2013.The main issues discussed in the meeting were the entire gamut of India-Brazil Strategic Partnership including Political, Economic and Commercial, Agriculture, Science and Technology, Defence, Cultural, Hydrocarbon etc. The Sixth India- Brazil Joint Commission Meeting was co-chaired byLuizAlberto Figueiredo Machado, Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, and Salman Khurshid, External AffairsMinister of Republic of India.

Highlights of the Sixth India- Brazil Joint Commission Meeting

• The Ministers welcomed the signature of a bilateral protocol to the Brazil-India Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement that amends its Article 26, regarding the exchange of information. The protocol is a further step in the global effort to establish an international financial system based on co-operation between countries, transparency and effective exchange of information in tax matters.

• Both Ministers discussed the issue of the ratification of the bilateral Agreement on Mutual Assistance on Customs Matters which will strengthen cooperation between customs authorities, in order to enforce customs laws and regulations

• They signed an Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which will enhance prospects of a closer cooperation between Brazil and India in legal assistance matters.

• They also renewed the Agreement on Cooperation between their respective diplomatic academies, the Foreign Service Institute and Instituto Rio Branco, signed in 2007.The agreement has offered so far a most valuable opportunity for the new generations of Brazilian and Indian diplomats to deepen mutual understanding and better knoweach other’s values and traditions.

• Brazil expressed its interest in implementing the new programfor the interchange of professors between the two diplomatic academies, still in 2013.

About India and Brazil  international relations

• India and Brazil were established their diplomatic relations in 1948.

• Although the two countries are divided by geography and distance, they share common democratic values and developmental aspirations.

• Both countries enjoy cordial and friendly relations, which are characterized by regular exchange of visits at all levels, shared values and convergence of views on issues of mutual interest.

• Both are large developing countries, each an important player in its region, both stable, secular, multi-cultural, multiethnic, large democracies as well as trillion-dollar economies.

• Shared vision of India and Brazil enabled forging of close cooperation and coordination in the multilateral arena be in IBSA, BRICS, G-4, BASIC, G-20 or other organizations.

INDIA AND FINLAND

India signed an agreement with Finland on 15 October 2013 to produce indigenous ethanol and reduce country’s dependence on its import. It is a first-of-its-kind initiative to promote use of clean technology in India.
The agreement was inked between Finnish Minister for European Affairs Alexander Stubb and India’s Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi in New Delhi. According to the agreement State-run explorer Oil and Natural Gas Company (ONGC) and Finnish clean technology firm Chempolis will set up a pilot project to produce ethanol, bio-chemicals and bio-coal from biomass residual matters. While signing the agreement the ONGC Chairman Sudhir Vasudeva told that since 75 per cent of India’s ethanol requirements are met through imports, there is a large requirement which is not being met by indigenous production.

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