International Heavy Minerals Conference 2013 in Visakhapatnam

The 9th International Heavy Minerals Conference (HMC 2013) was held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from 27 to 29 November 2013.

The biennial International conference is ninth in a series of conferences that focus on the heavy minerals industry. This International conference was held for the first time in India by the Mining Engineers Association of India (MEAI) in collaboration with and support from the Government of India, other professional organisations and industry.
                                                       

The Conference theme is: Overcoming New Challenges. 

The aim of HMC 2013 was to discuss the technical, managerial, business opportunities and challenges facing the sector worldwide. Delegates attended the conference including from Australia, Canada, Africa, US, China, Vietnam, Srilanka and Europe.

The earlier editions of the conference were held in diverse places as Cape Town (SA), Jacksonville (US) Fermantle & Perth(Australia) etc. The first conference held in Kwazulu Natal (SA) and the previous conference held in Perth.

Heavy Minerals

The Minerals with a density greater than 2.9 g/cm3 are called as heavy minerals. Examples of heavy minerals include garnet, zircon, tourmaline, topaz, magnetite, hematite, apatite, kyanite, glauconite, etc

UAE, Nepal Qualify For Bangladesh Twenty20 World Cup 2014

Nepal and the UAE on 27 November 2013 qualified for the ICC T20 World cup which will be held in Bangladesh in 2014.
                                           
Nepal defeated Hong Kong by five wickets in Abu Dhabi on 27 November 2013. Nepal survived a last-over scare to score the required 13 runs, with 10 runs coming from the first two deliveries and a last-ball misfield producing the winning runs.
                                                     

                                                                                     
The UAE has also qualified for the tournament as they defeated the Netherlands by 10 runs.

This will be the first time since the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996 that the UAE and Nepal will make an appearance on the global stage. Four teams have now qualified for the ICC T20 in Bangladesh next year. These include Afghanistan, Ireland, Nepal and UAE qualified .

The 2014 ICC World Twenty20 to be held in Bangladesh from 16 March 2014 to 6 April 2014 and a total of 16 teams are participating in this tournament.

Pakistan Launched Construction of Country's Largest Nuclear Power Project

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on 26 November 2013 launched the construction of the country's biggest Nuclear power project.
                                                           
The 2200-MegaWatt- Karachi Coastal Power Project, comprising the K-2 and K-3 nuclear plants, is being built at Paradise Beach, located 40 km from the Karachi.
                                             

                       
The nuclear power plant is to be built with Chinese technical assistance on the Arabian Sea coast.

Pakistan Launched Construction already has three operational nuclear plants generating a total of around 740 MW of power. The World Nuclear Association has estimated the cost of the new project at nearly 10 billion Dollars.

Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission engineers will work on the project with help from the China Atomic Energy Authority. As Pakistan is not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty it is excluded from the international trade in nuclear materials and technology, and can rely only on its neighbour China for help.

Union Cabinet Approved Land Transfer For Dr B. R. Ambedkar Memorial

Union Cabinet on 25 November 2013 approved a proposal to transfer Indu Mill land in Mumbai to Maharashtra government for constructing Dr B R Ambedkar memorial.
                                         
The decision was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. It would empower the Centre to acquire certain area of the Mill belonging to National Textile Corporation Limited in Mumbai for facilitation of construction of the memorial.
                                                 

           
Over 48000 square metres of land will be acquired for the purpose. According to the cabinet note, NTCL will be paid 45.77 crore rupees for the land. In this regard, Dr. B R Ambedkar Memorial Bill, 2013 is likely to be introduced in Parliament in the winter session beginning on 5 December 2013.

The legislation is aimed at empowering the Central government to acquire a portion of the land belonging to the National Textile Corporation Limited (NTCL) for facilitation of the construction of a memorial for Ambedkar. The ashes of Dr Ambedkar are interred at Chaitya Bhoomi, which is situated in the vicinity of the Indu Mill.

China Set up Air Defence Zone over East China Sea

China on 23 November 2013 announced that it was set up an Air Defence Identification Zone over an area in the East China Sea. The Zone includes Senkaku islands that are controlled by Japan but claimed by China.

In this regard, the Chinese Defense Ministry issued a map of an East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone including a chain of disputed islands. The zone came into effect from 10:00 local time from 23 November 2013.
                                                     

China also issued a set of rules for the zone, saying all aircraft must notify Chinese authorities and are subject to emergency military measures if they do not identify themselves or obey orders from Beijing. It stated it would identify, monitor, control and react to any air threats or unidentified flying objects coming from the sea.

China-Japan islands row

The islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, that lie in the East China Sea are a source of rising tension between China and Japan. The eight uninhabited islands with a total area of about 7 sq km are lie northeast of Taiwan, east of the Chinese mainland and southwest of Japan's southern-most prefecture, Okinawa.

They matter because they are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits. The islands are controlled by Japan.

Heads of Competition Authorities of BRICS Nations Signed The Delhi Accord

The Heads of the Competition Authorities of BRICS Nations signed a Joint Accord namely Delhi Accord on 22 November 2013 at 3rd BRICS International Competition Conference (ICC) at New Delhi. 

The Delhi Accord was signed to ensure effective enforcement of competition rules, among the BRICS nations and to strengthen the co-operation among their fair trade regulators by exchanging views and boosting communication. 
                                             

       
BRICS Competition Authorities also considered the need of establishing good communication between the BRICS Competition Authorities on competition law and policy to further improving and strengthening the relationship between the BRICS Competition Authorities. 

BRICS Competition Authorities, while recognising the benefits of technical cooperation among the competition agencies, in sound and effective enforcement of competition laws expressed their resolve and commitment to exchange views on different aspects of competition policy.  The Competition Authorities of BRICS also support the hosting of the Fourth BRICS ICC during 2015 at South Africa. 


The Delhi Accord was signed by Alessandro Serafin Octaviani Luis, Commissioner, CADE for the Brazilian Competition Policy System, by Andrey Tsarikovsky, Stats Secretary-Deputy Head of the FAS, Russia for the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation, by Ashok Chawla, Chairman, for the Competition Commission of India, by Sun Hongzhi, Vice Minister, for the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and by Tembinkos Bonakele, Acting Commissioner for the Competition Commission of South Africa. 

3rd BRICS International Competition Conference inaugurated by Prime Minister of India 

Hamid Ansari Released Book Entitled Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr A.R. Kidwai

Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr. A. R. Kidwai edited by Mufti Ataur Rahman Ansari 

Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India on 21 November 2013 released a book entitled Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr. A. R. Kidwai. The book has been edited by Mufti Ataur Rahman Ansari.
                                           

Dr A.R. Kidwai has been compiled in the book creatively. He was a learned scientist and served as a professor at Aligarh Muslim University. He contributed in the formation of Mewat Development Board in Haryana Click here for more information about hamid ansari released book   .

About Dr A.R. Kidwai

• Professor and Head, Department of Chemistry; Dean, Faculty of Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (1951-67).

• Chairman and Member, Union Public Service Commission of India (1967-79).

• Two times, he served Bihar as the Governor of Bihar from 1979-85 and 1993-98

• He served West Bengal as its Governor from 1998-99

• He became the member of Rajya Sabha from January 2000 to July 2004.

• He also remained the member of the following Parliamentary Committees:

a) Consultative Committee for the Ministries of Science and Technology, Environment and Forest from 2000-04

b) Standing Committee on Agriculture, Water Resources and Food Processing Industries from 2000-04

c) Committee on Subordinate Legislation from 2000-04

India And Vietnam ink Eight Agreements

New Delhi:  India and Vietnam on Wednesday inked eight agreements, including one for oil and gas exploration in the seas off Vietnam that includes the South China Sea as visiting Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks in New Delhi.

Nguyen Phu Trong is the general secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party.

The eight agreements as well as a $100-million line of credit to Vietnam for defence purchases is a major step forward in India's "Look East Policy".
                                                                                 

                                                         
Manmohan Singh "reaffirmed that Vietnam was a pillar of India's 'Look East Policy', which was supported by the general secretary. They envisaged a more active role for India in the regional and international arena," a joint statement said.

Outlining their strong convergence of interests in working together, Dr Singh said, "Vietnam's emergence as one of the most vibrant economies in the Asia Pacific region is greatly welcomed by India, especially because we regard Vietnam as a trusted and privileged strategic partner and an important pillar of our Look East Policy."

Boosting connectivity, both sides inked an air services agreement that would see direct flights between the two countries and also promote an international aviation system based on competition.

Both sides also inked an agreement for india and vietnam setting up a high-tech crime lab in Hanoi.

India is to provide a financial grant for buying technical equipment and teaching aids for the Indira Gandhi Hightech Crime Lab (IGHCL) and also depute experts to Vietnam.

The MoU "consolidates the cooperation between the two countries in the field of crime investigation, counter terrorism and other transnational organised crime, and other relevant areas".

The MoU between Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) provides for joint exploration, development and production of petroleum resources between the two countries for new investments by OVL in oil and gas blocks in Vietnam for oil and gas exploration and production.

Petro Vietnam is also to participate in open blocks in India and in third countries.

Vietnam's industry and trade ministry also inked a MoU with Tata Power Ltd. for development of the Long Phu 2 coal-fired power plant project in Soc Trang, Vietnam.

"The project is to be operated through a BOT Company owned by TATA Power and additional investors, with TATA Power as the lead member and will reach commercial operation in accordance with Agreements with the Vietnam side," the statement said.

Tata Power Co. Ltd won a $1.8-billion contract to develop the thermal power plant in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Tran after beating competition from South Korea and Russia to win the 1,200 MW contract.

A Vietnam-India English and IT Training Centre at the National Defence Academy of Vietnam in Hanoi will also be set up.

Both sides are on course to achieve the trade target of $7 billion by 2015.

A new Joint Sub-Commission on Trade has been tasked to work towards realizing the enormous potential of our economic relations, said the prime minister.

Dr Singh expressed appreciation for Vietnam's decision to award Tata Power the thermal power project and the offer of another offshore block to ONGC Videsh Limited for continued oil and gas exploration.

"We also look forward to boosting our bilateral economic ties through the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and connectivity projects," he said.

In India's first gift of a supercomputer to another country, a PARAM High Performance Computing Facility was inaugurated at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, the prime minister said.

The Archaeological Survey of India has also voiced readiness to take up conservation and restoration of the Cham monuments "which are a symbol of our historical, civilizational and cultural contacts".

SPMCIL Conferred With Engineering Excellence Award 2013

Engineering Excellence Award 2013 was conferred on the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), a Public Sector Unit under the Ministry of Finance, and Government of India on 19 November 2013. The award was given by Engineering Watch at SCOPE Convention Centre in Delhi.
                                                     

                                           
The second Best Engineering Excellence Award 2013 Marvel for Project Innovativeness was conferred on Modernisation of Ink Factory Project at Bank Note Press, Dewas. Indigenisation of Bank Note Paper production at Security Paper Mill, Hoshangabad and Modernisation of Bank Note Press, Dewas have been awarded under the Special Mention Category.

Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited 

Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) was formed after corporatization of nine units including four mints, four presses and one paper mill, which were earlier functioning under the Ministry of Finance. The Company was incorporated on 13 January 2006 under the Companies Act, 1956 with its headquarters at New Delhi. SPMCIL is a Miniratna Category-I CPSE, and wholly owned Schedule ‘A’ Company of Government of India. It is engaged in the manufacture of security paper, minting of coins, printing of currency and bank notes, non-judicial stamp papers, postage stamps, travel documents and others.

NASA Launched MAVEN Mission to Study Mars Atmosphere

The US space agency NASA on 18 November 2013 launched its MAVEN orbiter Mission to Mars planet. The orbiter mission was launched on an Atlas V rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 18:28 GMT.                                                

         
The probe will have a 10-month cruise to the Red Planet- Mars. MAVEN is going to study Mars' atmosphere. During the course of the long cruise, Maven will perform four trajectory corrections, with the first scheduled to occur on 3rd December 2013.

About MAVEN Mission

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolutio NASA (MAVEN) mission is part of NASA's Mars Scout program. The mission will explore the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere, ionosphere and interactions with the sun and solar wind.

The trip to Mars takes 10 months, and MAVEN will go into orbit around Mars in September 2014. MAVEN will be the NASA’s first spacecraft mission dedicated to exploring the upper atmosphere of Mars.

Scientists will use MAVEN data to determine the role that loss of volatile from the Mars atmosphere to space has played through time, giving insight into the history of Mars' atmosphere and climate, liquid water, and planetary habitability. The entire MAVEN mission cost 671 million US Dollars.

First Integrated Check Post on Indo-Bangla Border to Start on Sunday

AGARTALA: The first multi-use integrated check post (ICP) along the India-Bangladesh border is all set to be opened at Akhaura in West Tripura on Sunday by the home ministers of both India and Bangladesh.

Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and his Bangladesh counterpart, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, are likely to dedicate the ICP on the Indian side of the border to international users.
                                                     

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has built the Akhaura border terminal at a cost of Rs 73.5 crore over a period of two years to facilitate international traders and business users.

"Though Akhaura is the first multi-purpose ICP on the Bangladesh border, in India it is second after Attari in Punjab along the Pakistan border, First Integrated Check Post on Indo-Bangla Border which was inaugurated in April last year by the then home minister P Chidambaram," Tripura industries and commerce minister Jitendra Choudhury said on Friday.

Besides the home ministers of the two countries, Bangladesh shipping minister Shahjahan Khan, Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran and Tripura CM Manik Sarkar will also attend the inauguration ceremo.

"The ICP is equipped with all modern facilities such as goods loading and unloading zone, security watch tower, warehouse, export-import zone and all international services under a single roof along with an international standard passenger terminal," said Choudhury.

According to him, everyday 150-175 loaded trucks on an average are entering through the Akhaura check post with various export items, mostly clothes, fish, electronic items, stone chips and cement.

Till October this year, the volume of business between India and Bangladesh in all eight land customs stations (LCS) was recorded at Rs 105.62 crore, which was Rs 343.03 crore in the last fiscal.

33rd India International Trade Fair Opened At New Delhi

The 33rd India International Trade Fair began at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on 14 November 2013. President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the India International Trade Fair (IITF). The trade fair aimed to spur international trade while highlighting India's economic growth.
                                                       
The Theme of IITF 2013 is Inclusive Growth. The 14-day event scheduled from 14 to 27 th November 2013. About 6000 exhibitors including 250 from foreign countries are participating in the fair.
                                       

             
This year Japan is a partner country and South Africa, the focus country. 33rd India International Trade Fair While Bihar is a partner state, Odisha is the focus state.

About India International Trade Fair

The trade fair is organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization, and the fair is housed at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The IITF is one of the largest international trade fairs in the world.

The Indian International trade fair first opened in 1980. And this annual event provides a common platform for the manufacturers, traders, exporters and importers.

The fair displays comprises a wide range of products and services including Automobiles, Coir Products, Jute, Textiles, Garments, Household Appliance, Kitchen Appliances, Processed food, Beverages, Confectionery, Drugs, Pharmaceuticals, Telecommunication, Power sector, Electronic Sector, Furniture, Home Furnishings, Sports Goods, Toys, Engineering Goods etc. 

NASA Cassini Spacecraft Provided New View of Saturn And Earth

NASA in November 2013 released a natural-color image of Saturn from space, the first in which Saturn, its moons and rings, and Earth, Venus and Mars, all are visible. The panoramic mosaic of the majestic Saturn system was taken by Cassini Spacecraft of the NASA. It shows the view that can be seen by the human eyes. It was unveiled at the Newseum in Washington on 12 November 2013.
                                                                     

To create the panorama, the image team of Cassini processed 141 wide-angle images. The image sweeps 404880 miles across Saturn and its inner ring system, which includes Saturn rings out to the E ring, the second outermost ring of Saturn.

On July 19, people for the first time had advance notice a spacecraft taking the picture from planetary distance during the Cassini’s Wave at Saturn campaign. During the campaign, NASA Cassini Spacecraft Provided invited public to celebrate by finding Saturn in their part of the sky, waving at the ringed planet and sharing pictures over the internet.

An annotated version of the Saturn system mosaic labels points of interest. Earth is a bright blue dot to the lower right of Saturn. Venus is a bright dot to Saturn’s upper left. Mars also appears, as a faint red dot, above and to the left of Venus. Seven Saturnian moons are visible, including Enceladus on the left side of the image. Zooming into the image reveals the moon and the icy plume emanating from its south pole, supplying fine, powder-sized icy particles that make up the E ring.

The E ring shines like a halo around Saturn and the inner rings, because it is tenuous and can be seen with the light shine from behind it.

About the Cassini Spacecraft

Cassini Spacecraft was launched in 1997 and explored the Saturn system for more than nine years. NASA has planned to continue the mission through 2017 with the anticipation of many more images of Saturn, its rings and moons, along with scientific data.  

The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency. JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manage the mission for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. JPL designed, developed and assembled the Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras. The imaging team is based at the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colo.

COP-19, UN Climate Change Conference Kicked off at Warsaw, Poland

The UNFCCC's 19th Conference of the Parties (COP19) began on 11 November 2013 at Warsaw, Poland.

The 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will be held from 11 to 22 November 2013 at Warsaw, Poland. In this conference, delegates from more than 190 countries are meeting to discuss the global climate change issues, plans and solutions.
                                                                 

                                                       
The COP19/CMP9 Climate Change Conference began with calls for governments to harness the strong groundswell of action on climate change across all levels of government, business and society and make real progress here towards a successful, global climate change agreement in 2015.

One of the key talking points in COP 19 will be the Global Climate Fund (GCF), the mechanism being used to transfer money from the developed to the developing world to assist with the effects of climate change.

About UNFCCC

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was created in 1992. Each year it hosts the Conference of the Parties (COP) in a different city around the world in order to debate and discuss the most effective ways to combat climate change. 

India Declared It Self Free From Bird Flu

India on 12 November 2013 declared itself free from Notifiable Avian Influenza (H5N1), commonly called bird flu and notified the same to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
                                             
India notified the outbreak of the Avian Influenza (H5N1) at poultry production unit, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Durg and Government Poultry Farm, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on 05th August, 2013.
                                                       

The control measures adopted in the outbreak was taken in form of stamping of the entire poultry population and it included the destruction of eggs, declared it self free from bird flu litters, feed and other infected materials within the radius of one kilometer around the location of the outbreak, restriction of the poultry movement, disinfection and cleaning up of the infected premises and subsequently issuing of the Post Operation Surveillance Plan (POSP). On 12 August 2013 the POSP was issued.


Although India is free from the bird flu, but regular surveillance will be continued across the country especially in the vulnerable areas that is bordered by the infected countries and in areas which are visited by migratory birds. 

World Pneumonia Day observed on 12 November

12 November 2013: World Pneumonia Day

World Pneumonia Day was observed on 12 November 2013 across the world to raise awareness of pneumonia. The United Nations (UN) first celebrated the day on 12 November 2009.
                                                         

 
This year, the theme for World Pneumonia Day will focus on innovation – highlighting innovative solutions to end childhood pneumonia, while at the same time emphasizing that there are existing simple interventions that need to reach the most vulnerable children.

About Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs, making breathing painful and limiting oxygen intake. Pneumonia is the biggest killer of children under age five worldwide. Nearly one in five global child deaths result from pneumonia every year. In 2012, 1.1 million children under five died from pneumonia, the bulk of whom were less than 2 years old. The impact of pneumonia is worst among the poorest and most marginalized children. 

Afghanistan Signed Agreement With ADB For The Development of Dara-Suf to Yakawlang Highway

The Government of Afghanistan on 10 November 2013 signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the development of road network in the country at a cost of 220 million US dollar. The agreement was signed between Afghan Finance Minister Dr. Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and the ADB Country Director Joji Tokeshi in Kabul.

Major Highlights of the Agreement                                     
• The agreement envisages reconstruction of 178 kilometer north-south corridor road joining northern Balkh province with the central Bamyan province of Afghanistan Signed Agreement With ADB. This connectivity will play an important role in joining Afghanistan to the other regional countries.

• The agreement includes reconstruction of the 178km Dara-Suf to Yakawlang highway, preliminary survey of Gardan Diwal to Cheghcharan road and preliminary survey of Kabul’s ring road.

• It is important to note that the northern and southern parts of Afghanistan are linked by the Asian Highway which passes through the Salang Pass situated at an altitude of nearly 12000 foot in the Hindukush Mountains. However, due to the snowfall during winters, the highway gets blocked leading to the obstacle in connecting northern and southern Afghanistan.

• The proposed north-south corridor will provide an alternative route between the two reagions of the country.

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) also facilitated execution of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project, which is actually an opportunity for the regional cooperation at an unprecedented scale, linking the four countries economically.

It is worth noticing that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had earlier decided to support Afghanistan and commit to the economic development after the year 2014. 

13th Council of Ministers Meeting of The Indian Ocean Rim Association Was Held in Australia

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) held its 13th Council of Ministers meeting in Perth, Australia on 1 November 2013. On the occasion, India handed over the chair of the IORA to Australia. India chaired the IORA, since 2011.

The Perth reviewed the process made by IORA since 2012 meeting in Gurgaon, India. The future directions and initiatives to advance were considered then for the interests of the IORA and its members.

The thirteenth Council of Ministers' Meeting was visited by the member states Foreign Ministers namely Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.                        

Perth Principles                            

                                                    

• Reiterating that IORA is the apex pan-regional organisation for the Indian Ocean 13th Council of Ministers Meeting.

• Recalling the six priority areas of cooperation agreed at the eleventh COMM (Council of Ministers' Meeting) in Bengaluru, namely: Maritime Safety and Security; Trade and Investment Facilitation; Fisheries Management; Disaster Risk Management; Academic and Science and Technology Cooperation; and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges.

• Recalling Also our desire to promote the sustainable growth and balanced development of the Indian Ocean region and IORA Member States, and to create common ground for regional economic cooperation.

• Committed to promoting cooperation and collaboration between IORA and other Indian Ocean regional stakeholders including Dialogue Partner States and other regional and international forums.

• Reaffirming our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, to the Charter of IORA, and to the applicable principles of international law.

• Reaffirming Also our commitment to 'The Future We Want', as adopted at the 2012 United Nation as Conference on Sustainable Development, and to the protection, restoration, health, productivity and resilience of the Indian Ocean and its resources.

• Recognising that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources and plays a vital role in maintaining peaceful cooperation and stability across the Indian Ocean.

About the IORA 

The IOR-ARC was formally launched at the first Ministerial Meeting in Mauritius on 6 – 7 March 1997. This meeting adopted the IOR-ARC Charter, and determined a number of administrative and procedural matters.

The apex body of the IOR-ARC is the Council of (Foreign) Ministers (COM). The meeting of the COM is preceded by the meetings of the Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG), Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF), Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI), and the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO). The Coordinating Secretariat of IOR-ARC is located at Ebène, Mauritius. Apart from a Secretary-General, its present staff strength at the executive level includes two Directors and eight local staff.

IORA was formerly known as IOR-ARC (Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation).

Members of IORA (IOR-ARC)

The Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), initially known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, is an International/Diplomatic Organization with 20 Member States namely Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Whereas the China, Egypt, France, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States of America are Dialogue Partners of the IOR-ARC. The Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation (IOTO) and Indian Ocean Research Group (IORG) have been granted Observer Status.

India And China Have Resumed 3rd Joint Military Exercises After Five Years

Indian and Chinese army are set to hold their third joint military exercises after a gap of 5 years. During the exercises the Indian army contingent of 150 people reached the Chengdu city on 4 November 2013 to take part in the anti-terrorism drills.
                                                             

The 10 day drill code has been named hand in hand was inaugurated in the Chengdu city on 5 November 2013. India And China Have Resumed Earlier, the annual exercises began in 2007 and the first exercise was held in Kumming city of China, whereas the second round was held in India at Belgaum in Karnataka in 2008.

Further, the next round of exercise was called off by India after the General who headed troops in Jammu and Kashmir was denied the visa on the grounds that the region part of disputed territory.

The contact between the two nations was resumed after China withdrew its decision and started issuing the regular visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir. This step facilitated a broad engagement between the two giant neighbours.

PM Visit to China : India-China Relations

• The Indian and the Chinese are the two of the world’s most ancient civilizations that are still alive.

• India and china are the only counties with population more than 100crs.

• India and china are separated by the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau.

• As once wisely said by political observers "the global political architecture is shifting from the west to the East" which has been termed Asian century. Viewing from this point, these nations, India and china bilateral relations are going to play a major role in the international political system.

• “When we shake hands, the World will be watching” ---Chinese Premier

• However even today the graphs of sino-Indian relationship remain complex.

• These two emerging economies will set the future of this Asian century.

Quick Review:                 

• Political contact between India and China is very limited.

• The silk route brought both the nations in contact with trading and commercial relationship. However territorial dispute between the two nations owe its existence to the colonial post.

• Both the nations were slaves to foreign masters.

• In 1954, china and India signed an agreement in the name Panchsheel which means five principles of peaceful coexistence. India-China Relations Its features are:

(i) Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty;

(ii) Mutual non-aggression;

(iii) Mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs;

(iv) Equality and mutual benefit;

(v) Peaceful coexistence. After this agreement was signed, similar agreements were signed between various counties round the globe. In 2004, India and China celebrated 50 years of Panchsheel.

• In 1962, China attacked India and defeated

• Sino-Pakistani relations have been largely built on cynical anti-India considerations.

• Following communist revolution in China, Pakistan grew its strong relation with china as Pakistan felt it to be right step to counter India & soviet.

• Sino-Pak relations were so India-Centric that many Indian strategic analysis believe that biggest hindrance to Sino-India is because of relation of Sino-Pak

• The world has accused China of supplying nuclear and missile technology to Pakistan by providing satellite photographs as evidence. BY doing so. Chine is following a disguised foreign policy with India.

• The deep water port at Gwadar in Pakistan is to transform economy of the underdeveloped Chinese provinces of Xinjiong

The Hidden fact behind construction of Gwadar ports it to build strategic relations with several countries along the sea lanes from the Middle East to the South China Sea to protect china’s energy interests and security objectives. This construction is not only a growing concern for India but also for the US and Iran. Besides, India is exhibiting timely acts to counter China.

Border Issue:

The porous boundary which was demarcated by Imperial Britain, with northern boundaries of India with Tibet, led to dispute between China & India in claiming territories and tiny intrusion. The historic Shimla agreement of 1914 delimited McMahon line between India and China but the latter repudiated this. This line come active only when the British tried to exercise its influence beyond borders in Arunachal Pradesh. Issues arising out from this map to following places/areas.

(i) Tawang Town: This a town in Arunachal Pradesh where a famous monastery was built by the Tibetan Lama Lodre Gyatso according to wish by the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Labsong Gyatso in 1961. China shows the monastery as evidence that the district (which borders Tibet and Bhutan) belongs to Tibet and wants India to return it.

(ii) Aksai Chin: There has been no treaty signed either with china or Tibet regarding claiming of ownership of this land chunk. However, a British note of March 14, 1899, stands as the only formal proposal on a boundary between India and China in the Karakorum sector. The Chinese government has never replied to the British note, thus leaving its stand on the issue unclear. However, Lord Curzon had recommended in the Govt of India dispatch of March 24, 1904 that in the absence of a reply, it is deemed to be accepted and proceeds to act as if it had.

Today:

India and China share over 2,000 miles of barren, icy borders in the Himalayas that stretch from Jammu & Kashmir in north to Arunachal in the East. China claims 35,000 square miles within India’s jurisdiction where as India fights over occupation of 15,000 square miles on the Tibetan plateau by China. There exists no formal border between the both. Neither of them knew where the line of Actual Control lies.

Cry Over Tibet:

In the first place Tibet was seen as a route to trade with china, but later it was seen as a buffer place to counter Russia’s advancing into India by British. However following events happened :

•  1903: A political mission was sent from India to secure Understandings on frontier and trade relations.

• 1904: A treaty was signed at Lhasa between British India and Tibet without Chinese interference. The Dalai Lama fled to china.

• 1906: The Chinese signed a treaty with the Britain without Tibetan participation. This enabled the Chinese to seek direct control of Tibet by using force against the Tibetans for the first time in 10 centuries. 

•  1910: The Dalai Lama again was forced to flee, this time to India.

• 1911-12: The Tibetans expelled all the Chinese and declared Independence.

• 1951: Tiber was invaded following the communist revolution in china.

• 1959: Tibetan uprising was brutally suppressed which led to death of 87,000 people and Dalai Lama and most of ministers escaped and came into India and formed a government-in-exile at Dharmshala. 

• The then prime minister of India JL Nehru realized that the importance of peace for achieving the goal of nation-building and thus gave asylum to the Dalai Lama. This intensified disagreements with China and signed a treaty with China. By the same agreement, India also surrendered all political and economic rights enjoyed by British India in Tibet.
• In this agreement, Tibet was referred to as ‘Tibet region of china’ Ever since, the official Indian position has been than Tibet is an autonomous region of china.
• India’s continued asylum to the Dalai Lama and government-in-exile is of some discomfiture to the Chinese.
• Chinese occupation of Tibet is in part responsible for the acrimonious border dispute between India and China.
• India and every country in the world accepts Tibet as a part of china and all ongoing issues in that part of the world as internal matter of Chinese.
• India has offered very little support to the Tibetans.

1962 War:

• The construction of a road linking Tibet with the Chinese Xinjiong Uygur autonomous region via Aksai Chin, a region that was historically part of Ladakh in India triggered the war.

• India did not react until the road building was announced in Chinese Newspapers. No sooner India protested and sent a border patrol into the disputed territory and china publicly repudicated India’s claim to this territory.

• Nov 1961: India sent troops into the Aksai chin to prevent further Chinese encroachments. Minor border clashes and diplomatic warnings followed for next ten months.

• Sep 1962: The Chinese military crossed into Assam.

• Oct 20, 1962: The Chinese declared a ceasefire and withdrew 20km India had last over 22,000 sq Km of territory.

Nehru’s Role:

He passed away in 1964. He sternly advocated the admission of communist china into international community. He had refused an American offer of a permanent seat at the UN Security Council replacing China but advocated that Taiwan be replaced by China. Nehru requested western assistance especially the US when the Chinese crossed the McMahon line eventually to gain control over oil fields in Assam. When the US jet fighters intervened, the Chinese declared a unilateral ceasefire and its troops were called back to 20 kms on its own side.

Efforts and recent progress:

(i)  Both the nations hosted each-other’s news agencies.

(ii) Mount Kailas and the Mansarovar lake in Tibet, the mythological home of Lord Shiva were opened to annual pilgrimages from India.

(iii) Eight rounds of border negotiations between Dec 1981 and Nov 1987.

(iv) Rajiv Gandhi visit to china in Dec 1988 (after Nehru’s visit in 1954) stressed on the need to restore peace and friendly relations on the basis of Panchsheel.

(v)  In 2003, during PM Vajpayee’s visit, china officially recognized Indian sovereignty over Sikkim as the two nations moved towards resolving their border disputes.

(vi) Special representatives were appointed by both sides to negotiate the border issue.

Existing differences:

• 2006: During the visit of Chinese President Hujintao, the Chinese Ambassador in New Delhi claimed that the whole of Arunachal Pradesh in Chinese territory.

• July 2007: An IAS officer of Arunachal Pradesh visa was denied during the visit of Indian IAS officers delegation saying that he was a Chinese citizen and therefore did not need a visa to enter china.

• 2008: China started issuing stapled visas to residents from Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.

• 2011: Issuing stapled visas stopped.

• April 2013: A Chinese army patrol entered Daulat Beg Oldi in the western sector in Ladakh and set up a camp there.

All the above mentioned facts only say china does not want India to emerge as a global power and this border dispute is perhaps a long way away from a solution.

Visit and improvement in relations:

• R K Narayana was sent as Indian ambassador to Beijing in 1977 during Indira Gandhi rule.

• Rajiv Gandhi Visit in 1989: During this visit it is decided by both the sides to restrict border issue to cold storage & strengthen then relations in other areas.

• During the visit of the Chinese PM Li Peng in 1991, agreements on resuming of consulate-generals, memoranda an assuming border trade and on cooperation in science and Technology for the peaceful uses of outer space were signed. As a result of which Chinese consulate General in Mumbai in 1992 and the Indian consulate General in shanghai in 1993 were reopened.

• During the visit of the Indian PM PV Narsimha Rao, in 1993, the peace and Tranquility agreement was signed.

• During the visit of the Chinese President Ziang Zemin in Nov 1996, reaffirmed the five principles of peaceful coexistence to strengthen relationship in the 21st century and an agreement on confidence building measures in the Military Field along the Line of Actual control on the china and India Border was also signed.

• During the visit of the Indian PM Atal Behari Vajpayee in 2003, progress was made in growing consensus and not to view each other as a security threat, appointing special representatives both sides, and to work on economic cooperation.

• During the visit of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in 2005, a joint statement characterizing their relationship as a strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity was issued. Beijing and New Delhi signed the bilateral investment Promotion and protection Agreement and set an ambitious bilateral trade target of $40 billion for 2010.

• During the visit of the Chinese President HuJinTao in Nov 2006, a joint statement highlighting a 10-point strategy to elevate the relationship was issued and in addition to this more than a dozen agreements were signed to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, energy and cultural and educational exchanges.

The year 2006 was celebrated as the year of India-China Friendship. 

• In the nuclear test of May 1998, India identified the Chinese as the security threat number one. Correspondingly china reacted strongly and brought a UN Security Council resolution.

• Later, china took a neutral stance in the 1999 Kargil dispute.

Economic Relations:

• Indian economic reforms of 1990-91 ignited economic relations between both the nations.

• China is India’s largest trading partner. Bilateral trade in 2012-13 was US $66.7 billion.

• A bilateral trade target of US $ 100 billion was set for 2015.

• China imports raw materials, intermediates and components from India.

• Export of Iron ore to china constitutes around 40 percent of Exports of India, pushing Japan to second place.

• The other major exports are plastic materials, steel, chemicals and soybean oil.

• Bio-tech, IT, Health, Education, Tourism and Financial sector were identified as other areas to trade and enhance relations.

• China accounts for more than 5 percent of India’s total FDI receipt where as India accounts for less than 1 percent of China’s total FDI receipt.

• SBI is the first Indian bank to have a branch in shanghai, pharma companies like Ranbaxy, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, IT software companies like TCS, Infosys, NIIT have been established in China.

• However, a huge trade deficit has been building up in china’s favour.

Energy Security and Relations:

• India and China are two of the largest, fastest growing consumers in the present world. (India imports 75% of oil & China imports 66% of oil)

• Today both the nations are striking deals with other nations but when realized that their need for oil is taken as advantage and prices are hiked, many diplomatic negotiations took place. However, CNGC with CNPC won the bid for Petro Canada’s stakes in Syria in 2005.

• India and China are in a desire to institutionalize cooperation on energy security and as a result of which few visits were made from both the sides and finally signed five memoranda to strengthen their energy cooperation.

PRESENT SITUATION: 

• India and China closely cooperate within G20 & BRICS framework for democratization of the international financial structure.

• Frequent high visits is made mandatory by now by both the nations.

• In BRICS summit, held in South Africa, the Chinese president and Indian PM stressed an strengthening ties.

• Li Keqiang visited India first after taking charge as PM, even though it was the turn of Indian PM to visit according to protocol.

• India and China also discussed on Afghanistan and to deal with challenges there.

• In recent years, china maintained a balanced South Asia policy and neutral stance between India and Pakistan.

Few Points to take note :

• Transmission of Buddhism from India to China gave a cultural dimension to the relationship between the two neighbours.

• China supported Pakistan in 1965 and 1971 wars against India.

Conclusion:

The Sino-India relationship is bound to be one of the most important bilateral relationship in the coming decades. Together they account for 40% of world’s population and their booming economic growth will project them to second and third place within the next two decades. Feeble issues like peace, stability in regions will purely depend on the relations these nations build.

India and china held the fifth next round of strategic Dialogue on the progress on negotiations on Border Defense cooperation Agreement in August 2013, after a gap of three years. The dialogue was co-chaired by India Foreign secretary Sujata Singh and Chinese vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhen.

Indian Prime minster visited china this October. This visit involved discussions on Chinese dam constructions on River Brahmaputra known as Tsangpo in china which change the course of the river in India and other issues like Afghanistan as well as UNGA.