A special meeting was held between Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping on Zoom to exchange experiences on administrative matters of the two countries
South Asia's Balance of Payments Challenge: The Changing Dynamics of External Balances in South Asia
South Asia remains one of the least integrated regions in the world despite geographical proximity and complementary economic structures. Greater regional trade, improved transport connectivity, cross-border electricity markets, digital payment systems and investment partnerships could substantially reduce external vulnerabilities.
India's Employment Debate: A Future With Plenty of Work, But Fewer Jobs
Between 2004 and 2023, India produced roughly five million graduates every year, but graduate employment increased by only around 2.8 million annually. Even fewer obtained salaried employment. Millions are either unemployed or working below their qualifications or in the waiting room for the elusive government job.
How Sri Lanka Missed the Opportunity to Become a 200-billion dollar economy
Policy instability during the 2015-2024 likely pushed back Sri Lanka’s path towards becoming South Asia’s first High-Income Country. The 2022 financial crisis would never have happened as stable growth during the first half of 2015–2024 would have built enough buffer to weather impact of the Covid pandemic
When Nations Employ the Expansionary Grammar of Corporate Acquisitions
China’s Belt and Road Initiative - which funded Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port through loans resulting in a 99-year lease to Chinese State-owned enterprise in 2017 due to Colombo’s struggle to service said loans - follows the same expansionary script.
More on Economy, Trade and Development
Chinese ambassador Nong Rong meets Pakistan Army Chief
Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday met the newly-appointed Ambassador of China to Pakistan Nong Rong to discuss matters of mutual interest and regional security, said a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)
Rohingya repatriation: Dhaka hopeful of tripartite talks under Chinese auspices
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today expressed optimism over the resumption of talks on Rohingya repatriation using a tripartite mechanism after the formation of a new government in Myanmar
Tibetan leader congratulates Biden, seeks renewed policy on Tibet
Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Lobsang Sangay on Sunday congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory, saying he looks forward to a renewed policy and support on Tibet
Dalai Lama thanks Biden for support of Tibetan people
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Sunday congratulated Joe Biden on his election as the next President of the US, saying climate change is indeed pressing
India-China dialogue to resolve border dispute to continue
The military talks between India and China at Chushul in eastern Ladakh to resolve the border dispute ended in a stalemate but both countries have agreed to continue the dialogue to push for a peaceful settlement, India's Ministry of Defence said on Sunday
India, China talks to de-escalate border tensions end in deadlock
Military talks between India and China at Chushul in Eastern Ladakh to resolve the border dispute and de-escalation of forces ended in a stalemate with soldiers of both the countries destined to remain exposed to minus 20 degrees Celsius in the upper HImalayas in a months-long faceoff
Chinese court reverts decision on guarantee money in favour of Nepali banks
After an eight-year-long court battle, Himalayan Bank Ltd (HBL) and Bank of Kathmandu (BoK) may finally be able to retrieve more than Rs 1.50 billion from China Construction Bank (CCB) in the case of counter guarantee money for Melamchi Drinking Water Project
War with China can't be ruled out: India's Chief of Defence Staff
India'sn Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Friday said the situation at the Line of Actual Control - the de facto border with China - in eastern Ladakh remains tense and the possibility of a war with China cannot be ruled out
China to suspend entry of non-Chinese nationals from Bangladesh
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China has decided to temporarily suspend entry of non-Chinese nationals travelling from Bangladesh, holding visas or residence permits still valid at the time of this announcement
India faces challenges on borders, will defend territorial integrity: Defence Minister
In a clear message to China, just ahead of talks to resolve the border issue, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that India is facing challenges on its borders and will defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity
'China's position on the Kashmir issue consistent, clear'
China has said issues regarding "Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)" should be resolved peacefully and properly according to the UN charter, relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and bilateral agreements
QUAD and BECA will rattle China
India’s two major security decisions taken in October 2020 marked a major shift in its policy to counter China which were meant to strengthen and extend capacities of its armed forces against Beijing’s expansionist moves
Government inaction on Nepal-China border issue riles NC lawmaker
Nepali Congress lawmaker of Karnali Province Jeevan Bahadur Shahi has expressed anger at the Government of Nepal for not even feeling the need to investigate allegation of Chinese encroachment of Nepali land in Humla district
Huge disparity in Chinese, Pakistani staff’s salaries
The Chinese staff recruited by the Punjab Mass Transit Authority for Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project is getting huge salaries in comparison to the local employees, The News has learnt
