VIF Information Alerts - 03 July 2018

India grants tariff concessions to APTA members on 3,142 items
Published: The Economic Times
02 Jul 2018

India has agreed to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 products to the six member nations of the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) effective from July 1, an official statement said on Monday. "India has, on its part, exchanged tariff concessions on 3142 tariff lines with all member countries and special concessions on 48 tariff lines for least developed countries (LDCs), with Bangladesh and Lao PDR," a Commerce Ministry statement said.Click here to read...

China to fund rule of law for B&R disputes
Published: Global Times
02 Jul 2018

The Chinese government will fund legal cooperation programs on the Belt and Road initiative to improve the rule of law of countries involved in the initiative, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday. Wang made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Forum on the Belt and Road Legal Cooperation in Beijing. Wang also called on countries involved in the Belt and Road initiative to establish a disputes settlement system and service mechanism including arbitration and mediation to deal with disputes in the initiative. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on setting up a database of treaties and agreements, so that firms and the general public of the Belt and Road countries have access to them, Wang said.Click here to read...

Chinese firms involved in 40% construction projects in Sri Lanka: Report
Published: The Times of India
01 Jul 2018

With Chinese companies involved in as much as 40 per cent of the construction projects in Sri Lanka, a trade body here has moved a Cabinet paper demanding foreign companies engaged in such works should have local partners. The Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIoB), an illustrious group of engineers and builders of Sri Lanka, said the China International Contractors Association (CHINCA) has a stake in 40 per cent of construction projects in the country, Colombo Gazette reported.Click here to read...

Nepal, India agree to update all bilateral treaties
Published: The Pioneer
02 Jul 2018

The Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations has agreed to update all the bilateral treaties and agreements, including the crucial Peace and Friendship Treaty signed in 1950, in line with the present reality of the two countries, according to a media report. The EPG members reached the agreement in a joint report prepared after concluding its last meeting held in Kathmandu yesterday.

The EPG, which was formed in January 2016 with the mandate to review various aspects of the bilateral relations including Nepal-India Friendship Treaty 1950, has said it will submit the report to prime ministers of Nepal and India soon, according to a statement issued by the EPG.Click here to read...

India, Maldives ties on the brink again
Published: The Hindu
02 Jul 2018

Bilateral relations between India and Maldives are on the brink once again as the deadline for India to withdraw its two helicopters has passed and the issue of visas for thousands of Indian job-seekers remains unresolved. The visas of more than 26 Indian Navy personnel operating the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) were valid till June 30. However, Male has refused to extend their visas and has already asked India to take back the two ALHs. “The Navy personnel are in Maldives awaiting further instructions,” a defence official said.Click here to read...

Washington rejected Japan’s 1972 request to limit U.S. bases
Published: The Asahi Shimbun
02 Jul 2018

Foreign Ministry officials twice suggested to no avail that the U.S. military base presence in Japan could be reduced during informal discussions with their U.S. counterparts in 1972, declassified records have revealed. Of particular concern was Article 6 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, which stated that the U.S. military could utilize bases in Japan to maintain international peace and security in the Far East.Click here to read...

Contact Us