VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: April 30, 2019

PAKISTAN

Technical level talks with IMF begin: Dawn
April 30, 2019

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund kicked off on Monday technical level talks to sort out details of the proposed bailout package over the next 10 days. The visiting IMF mission will stay in Islamabad to conclude the technical details by May 6, while the policy level understanding will be reached over the next three days, a source at the finance division told Dawn. The proposed bailout package is expected to be $6-8 billion.Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Jirga Will Determine Framework For Talks With Taliban: Ghani: Tolo News
April 30, 2019

President Ashraf Ghani who inaugurated the Grand Consultative Jirga on Peace said the event will determine the framework for talks with the Taliban – who have refused to attend negotiations with the Afghan government delegates. Ghani said the Jirga will also seek ways to end war and violence in the country and that the delegates hope to find Afghanistan’s pathway for at least one century. “It is a pride and exciting to see that 3,200 elected delegates have been gathered under one dignified umbrella from across Afghanistan to determine the framework of talks with the Taliban,” Ghani said. He said the families of both sides -- the Afghan government and the Taliban – have paid the price for war and that he sees himself responsible to end the suffering. Click here to read... [3]

NEPAL

Nepal signs deal with China to access seven Chinese sea and land ports: Kathmandu Post
April 30, 2019

Nepal and China on Monday signed the Protocol on Implementing Agreement on Transit and Transport and six other agreements in Beijing after delegation level talks between President Bidya Devi Bhandari and her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali and Minister for Transport of China Li Xiaopeng signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments, according to the Nepali Embassy in Beijing. The protocol had been pending since Nepal and China signed the Transit and Transportation Agreement in March 2016 during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to the northern neighbour. Click here to read... [4]

CHINA

China marks centenary of May Fourth Movement: China Daily
April 30, 2019

China holds a ceremony to mark the centenary of the May Fourth Movement at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. President Xi Jinping attends the event and delivers a keynote speech. Here are the highlights of the speech. Click here to read... [5]

China upgrades 5th edition of its currency: China Daily
April 30, 2019

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, has upgraded the fifth edition of the renminbi (RMB), the Chinese currency, and on Monday announced the issuing of the new batch from Aug 30. Click here to read... [6]