All eyes are on Xiamen in China as it hosts leaders from across the world for the ninth BRICS leaders from 3-5 September. The forum, which aims to strength partnership among the member nations, is also eyeing to expand its influence on the global front. BRICS, which is an acronym for the charter members — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – is a group of emergining economies formed by China to challenge the dominance of the Western economies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian president Michel Temer, South African president Jacob Zuma and Russian president Vladimir Putin will all attend the summit, PTI reported. Even before the beginning of the three-day ninth BRICS summit in China on Monday, Xi Jinping set the tone for the meeting by pushing for
trade liberalisation
at the forum’s business meeting on Sunday. “We should push for an open world economy, promote trade liberalisation and facilitation, jointly create a new global value chain, and realise a global economic rebalancing,” Xi told BRICS business leaders and senior officials. [caption id=“attachment_4004511” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Delegates arrive prior to the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in Xiamen, China. Reuters[/caption] Xi’s comments only reiterate China’s latest efforts to counter US president’s ‘America First’ policy. For the same, China has invited five non-member nations — Egypt, Guinea, Mexico, Tajikistan and Thailand — to further enhance its sphere of influence,
The Live Mint
reported. At the Xiamen summit, Mexico’s president Enrique Pena Nieto is set to be in China to discuss trade and investment, as Trump has renewed threats to scrap the 23-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that he has labelled a killer of US jobs. This year’s summit is crucial as China is expected to appeal to other nations for the formation of a bigger bloc ‘
BRICS Plus
’. Earlier, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi was quoted as saying," China would explore modalities for BRICS-plus, to hold outreach dialogues with other major developing countries. We will widen the circle of friends and turn BRICS into the most-influential platform for south-south cooperation in the world”. Meanwhile, India is expected to raise its
concerns over terrorism
strongly and discuss Pakistan’s counter-terror record. However, China, an ally of Pakistan, previously told the media that this was not an “appropriate topic” to be discussed in the forum. India also
did not rule out
a possible meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping on the margins of the Summit on Monday with external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar saying it is a common practice to arrange bilateral meetings on the sidelines of such multi-laterals. At the last BRICS Summit, hosted by India, Modi had described Pakistan as a “mothership” of terrorism worldwide. The prime minister had sought decisive global action such as systematically cutting off funding, weapons supply, training and political support to terror outfits and asserted that selective approach to deal with the menace will be not only futile but also counter-productive. With inputs from agencies
BRICS Summit 2017 highlights: JeM, LeT included in joint declaration due to violent activities, says China
Ahead of the BRICS Summit 2017, Xi Jinping set the tone for the meeting by pushing for trade liberalisation at the BRICS Business Forum on Sunday.
)
5 Bs connect India to Myanmar, says Modi
PM Modi focuses on infrastructure development
Modi says he has decided to release 40 Myanmar fishermen lodged in Indian jails
PM Modi lauds External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s efforts
Modi says India free from poverty, terrorism, corruption, communalism, casteism is being created
Modi recalls freedom fighters who fought on Burmese soil
I’m facing a mini India here, says PM Modi
Modi begins his address to the Indian community by greeting people in Burmese, Tamil. The prime minister also recalls all the festivals Indians have been celebrating recently. “You represent thousands of years of shared culture, geography, aspirations. We don’t just share borders but also emotions,” says Modi.
PM Modi recalls Netaji Subash Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Army in Burma
This is where Subhas Chandra Bose had said ‘Tum Mujhe khoon do, mai tumhe azaadi doonga’, says Modi.
Watch Narendra Modi addressing people at Thunwunna Stadium
Indians cheering before PM Modi’s address at Thunwunna Stadium
Narendra Modi will be addressing Indian community at Yangon shortly
India to aid in building hospitals and industrial training centres in Myanmar
PM Modi says India is proud to be a part of Myanmar temple’s restoration work
The modalities of India-Myanmar bus service has been worked out, says S Jaishankar
Foreign secretary S Jaishankar says discussion in Myanmar focussed on development
Indians cheer for PM Modi at Yangon’s Thunwunna Stadium
Ananda Temple architecture shows Indian and Mon influences
PM Narendra Modi arrives at Yangon where he will be meeting Indian diaspora
New Delhi allocates $3 million for restoration of Anand Temple
The temple, one of the surviving masterpieces of the Mon architecture, is believed to have been built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, one of the greatest Burmese monarchs.The temple’s architecture shows Mon and Indian influence.
The temple was first damaged in an earthquake in 1975, and then last year when a 6.8 magnitude quake shook Myanmar. India and Myanmar signed an agreement in 2010 to restore the Ananda Temple and New Delhi allocated $3 million to the project being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).- PTI (Read more here )
India is collaborating with Myanmar for the conservation and restoration of Anand Temple
More images coming in from Modi’s visit to Anand Temple in Bagan
Narendra Modi pays his respects at Ananda Temple
Here are key points where India will cooperate with Myanmar on defence
Modi lands in Bagan
Modi to address Indian diaspora in Myanmar soon
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday on a three-day visit to Myanmar amid a raging crisis involving Rohingyas in the country’s Rakhine state.
Modi held bilateral discussions with Myanmar’s state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also the country’s foreign minister and Minister of President’s Office on Wednesday. Following the discussions, Modi gave a speech at the joint press statement with Suu Kyi.
Read the full text hereModi leaves for Bagan from Nay Pyi Taw
Modi gifts Suu Kyi a rehashed version of her 1986 IIAS proposal
India urges stakeholders to preserve Myanmar’s unity
India said today that it shares Myanmar’s concerns over the violence in the Rakhine state and asked all stakeholders to preserve the country’s unity and territorial integrity, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
Modi’s first bilateral visit comes at a time when the Myanmarese government is facing international pressure over the 125,000 Rohingya refugees that have poured across the Bangladeshi border in just two weeks after Myanmar’s military crackdown in the Rakhine state.
The prime minister, at a joint press statement with Suu Kyi, asserted that India stands by Myanmar amid the challenges the country is facing. Modi and Suu Kyi held talks and discussed ways to further cement the bilateral relations. – PTI
Modi said that when it comes to the peace process or solving a problem, “We want all stake holders to work towards preserving Myanmar’s unity and territorial integrity.”
Suu Kyi, in her remarks, thanked India for taking a strong stand on the terror threat that Myanmar faced recently.
List of MoUs signed during Modi’s visit
India and Myanmar on Wednesday signed eleven agreements in a range of sectors, including one to strengthen democratic institutions in this country, to further build their multifaceted partnership. The following are the MoUs signed:
– Maritime Security Cooperation
– Cultural Exchange Programme for the year 2017-2020
– Enhancing the Cooperation of the Upgradation of the Women’s Police Training Centre at Yamethin, Myanmar.
– Sharing White Shipping Information between the Indian Navy and Myanmar Navy
– Technical Agreement for providing Coastal Surveillance System
– Cooperation in Medical Products Regulation (Between Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and Food and Drugs (FDA), Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar on Cooperation in Medical Products Regulation)
– Cooperation in the field of Health and medicine
– Extension on MoU on establishment of MIIT
– Extension on MoU on establishment of India-Myanmar Center for Enhancement of IT-Skill
– In field of elections (between Election Commission of India and The Union Election Commission of Myanmar).
– Cooperation between Myanmar Press Council and the Press Council of India
Rise in construction of roads indicate a bright future for ties
Narendra Modi said that the rise in construction of roads and bridges, power links and connectivity indicate a bright future for India-Myanmar ties. Just like our development partnership, Myanmar’s efforts to ensure high quality education, healthcare and research is worthy of praise, he added.
By visiting Myanmar, Modi sent a message that he is not intimidated by ‘big brother’
What Modi probably has to lose is the wobbly friendship with the military regime and the hawkish General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s armed forces. By stopping over en route from the BRICS Summit in China where he and Xi Jinping played genteel footsies and little else in the thaw after the Doka La impasse Modi sent a message that he is not intimidated by big brother.
In the bigger picture context it is hugely indiscreet and tactless but if a display of Indian confidence is the yardstick well, China would certainly be miffed that this visit does not bode well for the present plastic cordiality.
Read the full opinion here
Amnesty urged Modi to reaffirm India’s commitment to Rohingyas