The United States is engaging with India over the issue of Ukraine and this will continue in the upcoming Quad summit in Japan next month, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters here. “We have had a number of engagements, as you know, with leaders in India about our approach to supporting the Ukrainians in this war, whether that is sanctions and the enormous sanctions package we’ve put in place or, of course, the assistance we’ve provided. We will convey the same sentiments in this meeting,” Psaki said. She was responding to a question on the Quad summit in Japan in May and how the issue of Ukraine would be raised or discussed. The Quad comprises Japan, India, Australia and the United States and the US Administration has said President Joe Biden will be meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi there. “This meeting is several weeks away, so a lot can certainly happen. And as you know, other members of Quad have also been vital partners and supporters of the … [Read more...] about US to Keep Engaging with India On Ukraine, to Continue During Upcoming QUAD Summit: White House
India japan global partnership summit 2017
India Must Lead Quad Effort to Pull Out Sri Lanka from Clutches of China’s Debt Trap Diplomacy
The statement issued by Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was nothing short of an intimation, nay confirmation, of the apocalyptic economic crisis that the island nation confronts. The numbers thrown by Mr Wickremesinghe are self-explanatory of the mess that he will need to clean up to put Sri Lanka back on track. Government revenues cover only 40 per cent of the expenditure being incurred. The fiscal deficit is around 13 per cent of GDP. The foreign exchange reserves are virtually non-existent. According to Wickremesinghe, “It is a challenge for the treasury to find USD 1 million.” Petrol stocks are down to just one day. Sri Lanka is looking at power cuts of around 15 hours a day because a quarter of the electricity is produced from oil which the government has no money to buy. There are huge shortages of medicines. Shortages of virtually every other commodity, including food, are inescapable. With the government being “compelled to print money” to pay … [Read more...] about India Must Lead Quad Effort to Pull Out Sri Lanka from Clutches of China’s Debt Trap Diplomacy
Thailand Gets India-made Covid Vaccine Covovax Under Quad Initiative
Thailand on Thursday received 200,000 doses of India-made Covovax vaccines as part of a flagship initiative of the Quad grouping to help countries combat the coronavirus pandemic. The vaccine doses were handed over to Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Bangkok by India’s Ambassador to Thailand Suchitra Durai, Australian envoy Allan McKinnon, Japan’s Nashida Kazuya and US Charge d’Affaires James Wayman, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. “The consignment comprising 200,000 doses of Made in India, Covovax vaccines was presented to Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health of Thailand on April 21 in Bangkok,” it said. This is the second consignment of vaccines delivered by India under the Quad vaccine partnership, after the inaugural supply to Cambodia on April 12. The Quad vaccine partnership was announced by leaders of the four-nation grouping at their first summit on March 12 last year. The MEA said the vaccine doses … [Read more...] about Thailand Gets India-made Covid Vaccine Covovax Under Quad Initiative
ASEAN-US: On the same page, but not in the same boat on Indo-Pacific
Endy Bayuni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta ● Thu, May 19, 2022 2022-05-19 02:17 0 02c2f042c5018a82e8094ec75262fb2f 1 Academia ASEAN,Joe-Biden,US,Kamala-Harris,summit,China,Indo-Pacific,outlook,strategy,South-China-Sea,Quad,investment Free The United States and ASEAN may have many things in common when it comes to the future of the Indo-Pacific, even on security issues, but they differ on how to deal with China. While Washington is trying to build alliances in the region to contain the rise of China, ASEAN has accepted China’s growing power and tries to include, rather than exclude, Beijing in the emerging regional architecture. There is one problem, though. China has not fully subscribed to the geographical definition of the Indo-Pacific region, suspecting that this framework is tailored to suit the US agenda. Besides, China does not have direct access to the Indian Ocean. But then, neither does the US for that matter, but this has not stopped it from … [Read more...] about ASEAN-US: On the same page, but not in the same boat on Indo-Pacific
Foreign dignitaries, heads of int’l organizations congratulate CCPIT on 70th anniversary
BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A number of foreign dignitaries and heads of international organizations on Wednesday congratulated the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) on its 70th anniversary. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who attended a video summit marking the anniversary, said Indonesia and China have a lot in common as trade cooperation has developed rapidly, and investment in various sectors, particularly in mining and metallurgy, electricity and infrastructure, manufacture, agriculture, and fishery, reflects common interests. Today, the world needs greater collective actions and inclusive collaborations between developed countries and developing economies, he said. Indonesia will optimize its G20 presidency for the matters, the president said. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso said that looking to Asia is looking to the future of the world, and that is why Ecuador has made joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for … [Read more...] about Foreign dignitaries, heads of int’l organizations congratulate CCPIT on 70th anniversary
IndiGo Appoints Pieter Elbers as New CEO as Ronojoy Dutta Set to Retire; Details Here
The country’s largest domestic budget carrier IndiGo on Wednesday announced the appointment of Pieter Elbers as its Chief Executive Officer, replacing incumbent Ronojoy Dutta. The 71 year-old Dutta, who came to helm the airline in January 2019, has decided to retire on September 30, after guiding the airline through the turbulent Covid period, IndiGo said in a statement. Elbers’ appointment, which is subject to regulatory approvals, will be effective from on or before October 1, it said. Since 2014, Elbers (52) has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Air France KLM Group, the airline said. “We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Pieter Elbers as the Chief Executive Officer of the company. India promises to be the last bastion of enormous growth globally and given Elbers’ deep understanding of the business, his legendary leadership qualities coupled with his energy and passion, … [Read more...] about IndiGo Appoints Pieter Elbers as New CEO as Ronojoy Dutta Set to Retire; Details Here
Thai farmers geared to satisfy China’s craving for durians
BANGKOK (Xinhua): A young man climbed barefoot on a metres-tall tree, slashed the stalk with a knife to pick durian, and then threw the fruit at Silaphon Thongrot, owner of the Miiw's durian orchard in Thailand. From March to July each year, Thai durian farmers are all geared to address China's craving for the football-sized and thorny fruit. "When durian season is in full swing, up to 8,000 durians are picked in one day," Silaphon said while catching a durian flying towards her from a durian tree. Located in the Chanthaburi province, the renowned fruit capital of Thailand, Silaphon's orchard is home to hundreds of durian trees with dozens of fruit on each of them. For its distinctive shape, intensive smell and rich custard-like flavour, durian is also called the 'king of fruits'. Currently, durians from Thailand are dominating the Chinese market. "Up to 100 per cent of our durians are shipped to China, and the demand is increasing year by year," said Silaphon, who has managed … [Read more...] about Thai farmers geared to satisfy China’s craving for durians