Archive for ‘Diplomacy’

09/02/2012

* Playing down irritants, India and China call for new, ‘flexible’ approach to ties

The Hindu: “Indian and Chinese leaders on Wednesday laid out a new roadmap for bilateral ties, calling for a “flexible” and “imaginative” approach in 2012 to minimise the effect of persisting political irritants, such as the border dispute and Tibet.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who on Wednesday evening inaugurated India’s new $10-million embassy, which he described as turning “a new page” in ties, underscored India’s willingness to calm sources of tension. He particularly stressed in unusually strong terms New Delhi’s support to Beijing on the Tibetan issue, amid ongoing unrest in Sichuan province that has seen at least 16 self-immolation protests by Tibetans in the past year and clashes last month with police forces that have left at least two killed and dozens injured.”

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2872755.ece

08/02/2012

* Indian Foreign Minister meets Hillary Clinton

Times of India: “Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai on Wednesday met secretary of state Hillary Clinton and held a series of meetings at the State Department and the White House on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues.

On his first bilateral visit to the US as the foreign secretary, Mathai is understood to have presented India’s perspective on a wide range of regional and global issues including Iran, the peace talks with Taliban and situation in the region.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Foreign-secretary-Ranjan-Mathai-meets-Hillary-Clinton/articleshow/11804711.cms

08/02/2012

* Leader-in-waiting VP Xi to visit US, Ireland and Turkey

Xinhua – “Vice President Xi Jinping is scheduled to pay official visits to the United States, Ireland and Turkey from Feb. 13 to 22, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

Xi is visiting the three nations at the invitation of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and Turkish President Abdullah Gul, spokesman Liu Weimin said at a news briefing.

Xi’s U.S. visit is aimed at further implementing an important consensus reached by state leaders of the two countries to establish a China-U.S. cooperative partnership of mutual respect and reciprocity, Liu said.

He added that China hopes the visit will enhance the two sides’ strategic mutual trust, expand bilateral cooperation, and aid in the maintenance of the sound and stable development of China-U.S. ties.”

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-02/07/c_131396185.htm

Xi Jinping is the President-to-be when the top leadership changes occur between late 2012 and early 2013. For more on this go to http://chovanec.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/primer-on-chinas-leadership-transition/#comment-4286

See also: https://chindia-alert.org/political-factors/geopolitics-chinese/

06/02/2012

* India derides UK foreign aid

Times of India: “Britain today defended its multi- million pound aid to India, amid demands by ruling Conservative party MPs and others to end it, saying “now is not the time to quit”.

The passionate debate was reignited on Sunday with the re-publication of remarks by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who said in 2010 that in the overall context of funds that India spends on development, British aid was “peanuts”, and one that India could do without.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/We-are-changing-our-approach-to-India-Britain/articleshow/11779696.cms

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