VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 10th September, 2018
PAKISTAN
Pakistan, China agree to broaden CPEC base: Dawn

September 10, 2018
Pakistan and China on Sunday agreed to formally invite “third-country” investors to be part of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and add social sector and regional development schemes to the existing portfolio of CPEC projects. The understanding on addition of “two major dimensions” to the CPEC projects came about at a long meeting between the Planning, Development and Reforms Commission of Pakistan and the National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC) of China on Sunday. Sources said that Beijing wanted involvement in the upcoming special economic zones (SEZs) of countries friendly to both Pakistan and China because it wished to steer clear of adverse criticism, particularly from the US and India, about possibility of secretive deals that “remain beyond public eye”. Click here to read....

AFGHANISTAN
Furious Kabul Residents Slam government over Massoud Day Mayhem: Tolo News

September 9, 2018

Kabul residents and some watchdogs have slammed government and security forces for allowing Massoud supporters to patrol the streets of the Kabul for hours, largely unchecked, while shooting in the air. Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) said Sunday’s chaos was testimony to the lack of rule of law in the country. "Today's Kabul situation is due to the lack of government and national sovereignty," Nasir Timori, a researcher at IWA said. Terrified residents mostly stayed indoors and shops and businesses through the city remained closed as gunshots rang out for hours across the city. Click here to read....

NEPAL
Dahal says meeting with Indian PM Modi ‘successful’

Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is in Delhi on a three-day visit, held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. The one-and-a-half hour meeting at the Indian Prime Minister’s official residence in the Indian capital, centred on bilateral relations and progress of the recent agreements between the two countries. While Dahal did not divulge the details of his one-on-one meeting with Indian PM, he termed the meeting fruitful. “I cannot reveal everything we discussed, but the meeting was successful,” said Dahal, adding that the meeting touched upon all the current issues between the two countries. On Saturday, former prime minister Dahal also met with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh separately. Click here to read....

Nepal Army to participate in BIMSTEC drill as observer: Kathmandu Post

September 10, 2018

A day after withdrawing its participation from the controversial BIMSTEC joint military exercise, Nepali officials decided on Sunday that Nepal will participate as an observer in the drill. On Friday, following the instructions from Prime Minister KP Oli, the Nepal Army had withdrawn from the military exercise scheduled to kick off in Pune on Monday. Although there has not been an official announcement, three Nepal Army officials who had already reached Pune last week will remain there as observers, the Post has learned. The Army had approved the schedule to participate in the joint exercise and decided to dispatch a platoon level team to Pune. Newly appointed Nepal Army Chief of Army Staff General Purna Chandra Thapa was scheduled to attend the conclave of the army chiefs of the BIMSTEC member states. Click here to read....

BANGLADESH
Bangladesh urges more pressure on Myanmar over Rohingya return: Asahi Shimbun

September 10, 2018

Bangladesh's prime minister urged the global community, including the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), on Sunday to increase pressure on Myanmar to ensure the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled a military crackdown. "Despite the negative impact on own resources, ecology and local population, we have opened our border to give shelter to a huge number of Rohingya Muslims on humanitarian grounds," Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said while inaugurating the regional hub of the IDB in the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka. "I urge the international community to take specific steps to build up pressure on Myanmar to implement the deal," Hasina added, without specifying which measures she had in mind. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees crossed from the west of mostly Buddhist Myanmar into Bangladesh from August last year when Rohingya insurgent attacks on the Myanmar security forces triggered a sweeping military response. Click here to read....

CHINA
President's Russia trip a boost to ties: People's Daily

September 10, 2018

President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Russia is expected to inject new impetus into China-Russia ties and promote broader regional economic cooperation, analysts said. Xi will attend the fourth Eastern Economic Forum from Tuesday to Wednesday in Vladivostok, Russia, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Click here to read....

China launches first domestically built icebreaker: People's Daily

September 10, 2018

China is launching its first domestically built research icebreaker, Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, on Monday, and plans to officially put it into service in the first half of 2019, according to its builder. A launch ceremony for the vessel will take place at Jiangnan Shipyard Group in Shanghai, China State Shipbuilding Corp, parent of the shipyard, told China Daily. Click here to read....

China's CPI up 2.3 pct in August: Xinhuanet

September 10, 2018

China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, rose 2.3 percent year on year in August, compared with 2.1 percent for July, official data showed Monday. The pickup was driven by a fast increase in non-food prices, which rose 2.5 percent year on year, the National Bureau of Statistics said on its website. Click here to read....

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