October 2018 India and the World

Sakshi Education

India takes lead in delivering equipment to France for ITER research project
India has taken a lead over others nations in delivering equipment to France for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) research project which is aimed at generating energy through nuclear fusion.

The total shipping load delivered so far, almost 40 per cent of load has come from India.

India is one of the seven member entities including China, USA, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the European Union for the ITER, which is coming up in southern France.
India, China sign agreement on security cooperation
The first India-China high-level meeting on bilateral security cooperation held in New Delhi.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest including bilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism and welcomed increased cooperation between India and China in the area of security.

An Agreement on security cooperation was also signed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and State Councilor and Minister of Public Security of China, Zhao Kezhi.
India, Croatia sign two agreements
India and Croatia signed two agreements on 22 October, 2018 to strengthen cultural and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.

The agreements were signed following External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Croatia Marija Pejcinovic Buric in New Delhi this afternoon.

Both leaders discussed ways to step up cooperation in trade and investment, health, science and technology, education, tourism and culture.
India and UAE resolve to further strengthen their strategic and bilateral relations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussed on 23 October, 2018 further advancing of the historical and strategic friendship ties between the two counties.

Over a phone call, the two leaders reaffirmed their robust strategic partnerships and their determination to develop their bilateral relations to the higher good of their two peoples.

The Emirates News Agency reported last night that the two leaders exchanged insights over an array of international and regional issues, with emphasis on the latest developments in the Middle East region.
India, Bangladesh sign agreements for enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity
India and Bangladesh on 25 October, 2018 signed several agreements for enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity between the two countries for trade and cruise movements.

The two countries have signed an agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India.

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has also been signed for movement of passenger and cruise services.

In addition to this, an addendum to ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade between the two countries has also been signed for inclusion of Dhubri in India and Pangaon in Bangladesh as new Ports of Call.

These agreements will facilitate easier movement of goods and passengers between the two countries, giving an impetus to trade and tourism.

In another important understanding reached at between the two countries, the Standard Operating Procedure for movement of passengers and cruise vessels on Inland Protocol route and coastal shipping routes have been finalised.

These river cruise services are likely to commence between Kolkata - Dhaka - Guwahati - Jorhat.
India, China set to resume drill
India and China will resume the annual joint Army exercise ‘Hand-in-Hand’ in December in China’s Chengdu region.

The drill was cancelled last year (2017) due to tense relations in the aftermath of the Doklam standoff.

The Exercise Planning Conference is scheduled to be held from November 1-3 at Chengdu in China

Following the Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April, the two countries have initiated several measures to normalize relations.

The scope of the exercise is to understand transnational terrorism and evolve joint drills for the conduct of counter terrorism operations, in addition to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations.
India, China to sign internal security cooperation agreement on Oct 22
India and China will sign an internal security cooperation agreement next week, marking a new beginning in bilateral relations.

This is 1st of its kind between India and China.

The proposed pact is expected to cover areas of intelligence sharing, exchange programme, sharing of best practices, and cooperation in disaster mitigation besides others.

The move comes just a year after a two-month-long border stand-off between the India Army and the China’s People’s Liberation Army at Doklam on the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds bilateral talks with her US, ASEAN counterparts in Singapore
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a series of bilateral meetings with her counterparts from ASEAN nations and US Defence Secretary James Mattis on the sidelines of ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meet in Singapore.

Defence Ministers from ASEAN countries and that of Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the US have gathered in Singapore for the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and the 5th ADMM-Plus, which is being hosted by Singapore.

India and Singapore will extend their already comprehensive bilateral defense collaboration.
President Ram Nath Kovind reaches Tajikistan on three-day visit; bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation on the agenda
President Ram Nath Kovind has reached Tajikistan on a three-day visit to Central Asian Country. After arrival at state capital Dushanbe. The President was received by Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Zokirzoda Mahmad Toir.

All areas of bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation are expected to be discussed during President’s visit to Tajikistan.

During his 3 day tour, Mr. Kovind will also visit the Tajik National University where he will deliver an address on 'Countering Radicalization: Challenges in Modern Societies'.
India, Tajikistan sign several MoUs in fields of agriculture, space technology and disaster management
An agreement on cooperation in the field of disaster management.

An agreement between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Tajik Academy of Agriculture Sciences.

An agreement on peaceful use of space technology for developmental purposes.

An agreement between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, and the Committee of Youth, Sports and Tourism, Government of Tajikistan.

An agreement between the Centre Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, and the Tajik State Medical University Abualibh Sino.

A programme of cooperation between the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Tajikistan, for the period 2018-21.

An agreement between the India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan for cooperation in renewable energy.

A cultural exchange programme between the Ministries of Culture of India and Tajikistan for the period 2019-23.

An agreement for academic and research exchanges between the Vivekananda International Foundation, India, and the Centre for Strategic Researches, Tajikistan.
India-Azerbaijan sign protocol
The 5th meeting of India-Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade and Economic, Science and Technology Cooperation (IA-IGC) was held in New Delhi

The two sides exchanged views on current economic situation and reviewed the current status of bilateral trade, investment and their cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, science and technology.

Aim:
Emphasize to further strengthen and expand their cooperation in trade and investment, transportation, energy and hydro-carbons, SMEs, agriculture, food safety and environmental protection, tourism, culture, health and pharmaceuticals, space technology, education and scientific research, chemicals and petrochemicals and mining.

To send trade delegations to raise awareness regarding economic developments and reforms in the two countries and have regular exchange of information about trade exhibitions, fairs, conferences and other business events.
India, Uzbekistan agree to deepen strategic cooperation
India and Uzbekistan have decided to deepen strategic partnership in various areas, including security, counter-terrorism, trade and investment, science and technology and nuclear energy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held bilateral talks in New Delhi.

Prosperous and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of the entire region.

A joint statement issued after talks between Mr Narendra Modi and Mr. Mirziyoyev, the two countries have decided to start negotiations on a preferential trade agreement.

Both sides agreed to expand cooperation and the target for bilateral trade is one billion dollars by 2020. New Delhi has decided to extend a 200-million dollars line of credit to Tashkent for social infrastructure projects.

Both the countries favored the introduction of direct flights between Tashkent and Mumbai and agreed to explore various options to enhance surface connectivity between them.

Earlier, India and Uzbekistan signed 17 MoUs in various fields, including agriculture, tourism, combating illicit trafficking, health and medical science and pharmaceuticals.
Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi to attend 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reached New Delhi on a two-day visit to India. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj received Mr Vladimir Putin upon his arrival this evening. The Russian President will attend the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit in the national capital tomorrow.

President Putin will also hold delegation level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both the leaders will deliberate on a range of regional and global issues with a focus on further boosting the bilateral ties. After the talks, agreements are expected to be signed between the two countries.

The last India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit was held in June last year, during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Russia.
India, Kazakhstan agree to step up military cooperation, especially in defence production
India and Kazakhstan agreed to step up military cooperation, especially in the areas of defense production.

They discussed a wide range of issues relating to defense and military technical cooperation and took stock of the progress of the bilateral relationship, especially in the defense sector.

The two countries had renewed the Memorandum of Cooperation on defense in January 2017. Both countries are 'strategic partners' since 2009.

Over 200 Kazakh defence forces personnel have undergone military training in India till date. Both countries successfully conducted a company-level joint military exercise 'KAZIND-2018' in south Kazakhstan last month.

The Kazakh contingent will join the Indian contingent at Lebanon by the end of this month. She also invited Yermekbayev Atamkulov to visit India and to attend Aero India 2019 to be held in Bengaluru in February 2019.